Arrays

Create an array

An array stores an ordered list of values under one name. The short [] syntax builds one in a single expression, and positions count from zero. The companion page Arrays in PHP shows more array forms.

$colors = ["red", "green", "blue"]; $empty = []; var_dump(count($colors));

Read by offset

Square brackets read one element by its position: $colors[0] is the first item, $colors[2] the third. Reading a missing offset raises a warning and evaluates to null, so check long-lived data with isset first.

$colors = ["red", "green", "blue"]; echo $colors[0]; echo $colors[2];

Append elements

Empty brackets append after the last element: $cart[] = "book" adds one more item and numbers it automatically. This is how lists grow one element at a time, for example while reading rows or collecting input.

$cart = []; $cart[] = "book"; $cart[] = "pen"; echo count($cart);

Loop over arrays

The foreach loop visits every element in order and needs no counter. A classic for loop with an index works too, and fits when the position itself drives the logic.

$cart = ["book", "pen"]; foreach ($cart as $item) { echo $item; } for ($i = 0; $i < count($cart); $i++) { echo $cart[$i]; }

Next: Associative arrays

Article author: Arthur Isaev