PHP array_column: How to Extract Values from Arrays

The array_column function in PHP takes values from one column in a multidimensional array. You can use it to pull out numbers, strings, or any column value you need.

What is the array_column Function in PHP?

The array_column function gets values from a single column in an array. It can also return those values with new keys if you set a key field.

Here is the syntax:

array_column($array, $column_key, $index_key)

• array: input array
• column_key: column index or key that you want to extract
• index_key: optional key to use for the result array

The function always returns a new array.

You need to take values from a big array. Instead of loops you use array_column.

Here is a quick example:

$data = [
    ["id" => 1, "name" => "Ali"],
    ["id" => 2, "name" => "Sara"],
    ["id" => 3, "name" => "Omar"]
];

$result = array_column($data, "name");
print_r($result);

This returns only the names as one array. You get the final output here:

Array
(
    [0] => Ali
    [1] => Sara
    [2] => Omar
)

The function looks at each inner array. It finds the field that matches your column key. It then creates a new array with only those values.

Here is another example:

$users = [
    ["id" => 11, "email" => "[email protected]"],
    ["id" => 22, "email" => "[email protected]"],
    ["id" => 33, "email" => "[email protected]"]
];

$emails = array_column($users, "email");
print_r($emails);

This gives you only the email column. The result is simple and direct. Here is the output:

Array
(
    [0] => [email protected]
    [1] => [email protected]
    [2] => [email protected]
)

Use array_column with Associative Keys in PHP

You can also set a key field. That field becomes the index of the result array. For example:

$users = [
    ["id" => 101, "name" => "Mona"],
    ["id" => 102, "name" => "Hassan"]
];

$result = array_column($users, "name", "id");
print_r($result);

This returns names with ids as array keys. It gives you a direct map of id to name.

The output:

Array
(
    [101] => Mona
    [102] => Hassan
)

Here is another example:

$items = [
    ["code" => "A1", "price" => 50],
    ["code" => "B2", "price" => 80],
    ["code" => "C3", "price" => 100]
];

$result = array_column($items, "price", "code");
print_r($result);

This creates a new array. Each item code becomes the key, and each price becomes the value.

Here is the output:

Array
(
    [A1] => 50
    [B2] => 80
    [C3] => 100
)

Handle Duplicate Values with array_column

The function does not check for duplicate values. If two rows have the same key, the last one replaces the first one.

$items = [
    ["code" => "A1", "price" => 50],
    ["code" => "A1", "price" => 70]
];

$result = array_column($items, "price", "code");
print_r($result);

This gives you only one key, A1, with a value of 70. The output:

Array
(
    [A1] => 70
)

Examples

Extract product names:

$products = [
    ["id" => 1, "name" => "Phone"],
    ["id" => 2, "name" => "Tablet"],
    ["id" => 3, "name" => "Laptop"]
];

$result = array_column($products, "name");
print_r($result);

This example takes only the name field from each product array and returns one array with those names. It avoids loops and creates one simple output:

Array
(
    [0] => Phone
    [1] => Tablet
    [2] => Laptop
)

Create a user map by email:

$users = [
    ["id" => 11, "email" => "[email protected]"],
    ["id" => 12, "email" => "[email protected]"]
];

$result = array_column($users, "id", "email");
print_r($result);

This example makes each email the key and the id the value. It gives you an easy way to look up ids by email directly.

Here is the output:

Array
(
    [[email protected]] => 11
    [[email protected]] => 12
)

Match country codes with currency:

$currency = [
    ["code" => "US", "currency" => "Dollar"],
    ["code" => "UK", "currency" => "Pound"],
    ["code" => "JP", "currency" => "Yen"]
];

$result = array_column($currency, "currency", "code");
print_r($result);

Here is the output:

Array
(
    [US] => Dollar
    [UK] => Pound
    [JP] => Yen
)

This example maps each country code to its currency. The function builds one array where the code is the key and the currency is the value.

Wrapping Up

You learned what array_column does and how it works. You also saw how to use it with simple arrays, associative keys, and duplicate values.

Here is a quick recap:

• The function extracts one column from a multidimensional array.
• You can set a key field to use as the index.
• Duplicate keys replace earlier values.
• It works with both numeric and associative arrays.

FAQs

$data = [
  ["id" => 1, "name" => "Ali"],
  ["id" => 2, "name" => "Sara"]
];
$result = array_column($data, "name");
print_r($result);

/*
Output:
Array
(
  [0] => Ali
  [1] => Sara
)
*/

$data = [
  ["id" => 1, "name" => "Ali"],
  ["id" => 2, "name" => "Sara"]
];
$result = array_column($data, "name", "id");
print_r($result);

/*
Output:
Array
(
  [1] => Ali
  [2] => Sara
)
*/

$data = [
  ["id" => 1, "info" => ["city" => "Riyadh"]],
  ["id" => 2, "info" => ["city" => "Jeddah"]]
];
$result = array_column($data, "info");
print_r($result);

/*
Output:
Array
(
  [0] => Array
      (
          [city] => Riyadh
      )

  [1] => Array
      (
          [city] => Jeddah
      )
)
*/

$data = [
  ["id" => 1, "name" => "Ali"],
  ["id" => 2, "name" => "Sara"]
];

$col = array_column($data, "name");
$map = array_map(function($v) { return $v["name"]; }, $data);

print_r($col);
print_r($map);

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