{"id":1054,"date":"2021-04-12T09:26:35","date_gmt":"2021-04-12T09:26:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phptutorial.net\/?page_id=1054"},"modified":"2025-04-10T04:32:31","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T04:32:31","slug":"php-multidimensional-array","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.phptutorial.net\/php-tutorial\/php-multidimensional-array\/","title":{"rendered":"PHP Multidimensional Array"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Summary<\/strong>: in this tutorial, you will learn how to define a PHP multidimensional array and manipulate its elements effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction to PHP multidimensional array #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Typically, you have an array<\/a> with one dimension. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n

<?php<\/span>\n\n$scores = [1<\/span>, 2<\/span>, 3<\/span>, 4<\/span>, 5<\/span>];<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Or<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$rates = [\n\t'Excellent'<\/span> => 5<\/span>,\n\t'Good'<\/span> => 4<\/span>,\n\t'OK'<\/span> => 3<\/span>,\n\t'Bad'<\/span> => 2<\/span>,\n\t'Very Bad'<\/span> => 1<\/span>\n];<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Both $scores<\/code> and $rates<\/code> are one-dimensional arrays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A multidimensional array is an array that has more than one dimension. For example, a two-dimensional array is an array of arrays. It is like a table of rows and columns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In PHP, an element in an array can be another array. Therefore, to define a multidimensional array, you define an array of arrays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The following example uses an array of arrays to define a two-dimensional array:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$tasks = [\n    ['Learn PHP programming'<\/span>, 2<\/span>],\n    ['Practice PHP'<\/span>, 2<\/span>],\n    ['Work'<\/span>, 8<\/span>],\n    ['Do exercise'<\/span> 1<\/span>],\n];<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
In the $tasks<\/code> array, the first dimension represents the tasks, and the second dimension specifies the hours spent for each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To display all the elements in a multidimensional array, you use the print_r()<\/code> function like this:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$tasks = [\n\t['Learn PHP programming'<\/span>, 2<\/span>],\n\t['Practice PHP'<\/span>, 2<\/span>],\n\t['Work'<\/span>, 8<\/span>],\n\t['Do exercise'<\/span>, 1<\/span>],\n];\n\nprint_r($tasks);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
Array<\/span>\n(    \n    [0<\/span>] => Array<\/span>\n        (\n            [0<\/span>] => Learn PHP programming\n            [1<\/span>] => 2<\/span>\n        )\n\n    [1<\/span>] => Array<\/span>\n        (\n            [0<\/span>] => Practice PHP\n            [1<\/span>] => 2<\/span>\n        )\n\n    [2<\/span>] => Array<\/span>\n        (\n            [0<\/span>] => Work\n            [1<\/span>] => 8<\/span>\n        )\n\n    [3<\/span>] => Array<\/span>\n        (\n            [0<\/span>] => Do<\/span> exercise\n            [1<\/span>] => 1<\/span>\n        )\n\n)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Adding elements to a PHP multidimensional array #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To add an element to a multidimensional array, you use the following syntax:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$array[] = [element1, element2, ...];<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
For example, to add an element at the end of the $tasks<\/code> array, you use the following:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$tasks = [\n\t['Learn PHP programming'<\/span>, 2<\/span>],\n\t['Practice PHP'<\/span>, 2<\/span>],\n\t['Work'<\/span>, 8<\/span>],\n\t['Do exercise'<\/span>, 1<\/span>],\n];\n\n$tasks[] = ['Build something matter in PHP'<\/span>, 2<\/span>];\n\nprint_r($tasks );<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Removing elements from a PHP multidimensional array #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To remove an element from a multidimensional array, you can use the unset()<\/code> function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The following example uses the unset()<\/code> function to remove the third element of the $tasks array:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$tasks = [\n\t['Learn PHP programming'<\/span>, 2<\/span>],\n\t['Practice PHP'<\/span>, 2<\/span>],\n\t['Work'<\/span>, 8<\/span>],\n\t['Do exercise'<\/span>,1<\/span>],\n];\n\nunset<\/span>($tasks[2<\/span>]);\n\nprint_r($tasks);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
Array<\/span>\n(\n    [0<\/span>] => Array<\/span>\n        (\n            [0<\/span>] => Learn PHP programming\n            [1<\/span>] => 2<\/span>\n        )\n\n    [1<\/span>] => Array<\/span>\n        (\n            [0<\/span>] => Practice PHP\n            [1<\/span>] => 2<\/span>\n        )\n\n    [3<\/span>] => Array<\/span>\n        (\n            [0<\/span>] => Do<\/span> exercise\n            [1<\/span>] => 1<\/span>\n        )\n\n)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Note that the unset()<\/code> function doesn’t change the array’s keys. To reindex the key, you can use the array_splice()<\/code> function. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$tasks = [\n\t['Learn PHP programming'<\/span>, 2<\/span>],\n\t['Practice PHP'<\/span>, 2<\/span>],\n\t['Work'<\/span>, 8<\/span>],\n\t['Do exercise'<\/span>, 1<\/span>],\n];\n\narray_splice($tasks[2<\/span>], 2<\/span>, 1<\/span>);\n\nprint_r($tasks);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
Array<\/span>\n(\n    [0<\/span>] => Array<\/span>\n        (\n            [0<\/span>] => Learn PHP programming\n            [1<\/span>] => 2<\/span>\n        )\n\n    [1<\/span>] => Array<\/span>\n        (\n            [0<\/span>] => Work\n            [1<\/span>] => 8<\/span>\n        )\n\n    [2<\/span>] => Array<\/span>\n        (\n            [0<\/span>] => Do<\/span> exercise\n            [1<\/span>] => 1<\/span>\n        )\n\n)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Iterating over elements of a multidimensional array using foreach #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To iterate a multidimensional array, you use a nested foreach<\/a><\/code> loop like this:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$tasks = [\n\t['Learn PHP programming'<\/span>, 2<\/span>],\n\t['Practice PHP'<\/span>, 2<\/span>],\n\t['Work'<\/span>, 8<\/span>],\n\t['Do exercise'<\/span>, 1<\/span>],\n];\n\nforeach<\/span> ($tasks as<\/span> $task) {\n\tforeach<\/span> ($task as<\/span> $task_detail) {\n\t\techo<\/span> $task_detail . '<br>'<\/span>;\n\t}\n}<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
Learn PHP programming\n2<\/span>\nPractice PHP\n2<\/span>\nWork\n8<\/span>\nDo<\/span> exercise\n1<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Accessing elements of a multidimensional array #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To access an element in a multidimensional array, you use the square brackets ([]<\/code>):<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$array[key][key][key]...<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
For example, to access the number of hours spent on the \"Learn PHP programming\"<\/code> task, you use the following code:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$tasks = [\n\t['Learn PHP programming'<\/span>, 2<\/span>],\n\t['Practice PHP'<\/span>, 2<\/span>],\n\t['Work'<\/span>, 8<\/span>],\n\t['Do excercise'<\/span>, 1<\/span>],\n];\n\necho<\/span> $tasks[0<\/span>][1<\/span>];<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Sorting a multidimensional array #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To sort a multidimensional array, you use the usort()<\/code> function. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$tasks = [\n\t['Learn PHP programming'<\/span>, 2<\/span>],\n\t['Practice PHP'<\/span>, 2<\/span>],\n\t['Work'<\/span>, 8<\/span>],\n\t['Do excercise'<\/span>, 1<\/span>],\n];\n\nusort($tasks, function<\/span> ($a, $b)<\/span> <\/span>{\n\treturn<\/span> $a[1<\/span>] <=> $b[1<\/span>];\n});\n\nprint_r($tasks);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
In this example, we use the spaceship operator (<=><\/code>), which has been available since PHP 7, to compare the time spent on each task and sort the tasks by hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
Array<\/span>\n(\n    [0<\/span>] => Array<\/span>\n        (\n            [0<\/span>] => Do<\/span> excercise\n            [1<\/span>] => 1<\/span>\n        )\n\n    [1<\/span>] => Array<\/span>\n        (\n            [0<\/span>] => Learn PHP programming\n            [1<\/span>] => 2<\/span>\n        )\n\n    [2<\/span>] => Array<\/span>\n        (\n            [0<\/span>] => Practice PHP\n            [1<\/span>] => 2<\/span>\n        )\n\n    [3<\/span>] => Array<\/span>\n        (\n            [0<\/span>] => Work\n            [1<\/span>] => 8<\/span>\n        )\n\n)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Summary #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  • Use an array of arrays to create two or more multidimensional arrays in PHP.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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