[PHP] Array indexes as string value

[Jayzee]

Hi guys,

I wonder why I'm not able to use strings as array index to get a value from the array?

Is there any other way of doing it (without evals please)?

Example:

  $arr = array(
	"foo" => array(
	  "bar" => "abc",
	  "baz" => "CBA"
	)
  );

  $string = "['foo']['bar']";
  echo $arr['foo']['bar']; // OK: abc
  echo $arr{$string}; // Fail: Undefined index: ['foo']['bar']
[/CODE]

[dawhiz]

You can do stuff like:

$blah = 'foo';

$blah2 = 'bar';

echo $arr[$blah][$blah2];

[AnthonySterling]

You can use strings as array indices, but you're also trying to use the strings as a substitute for the language.

<?php
$array = array(
'foo' => array('bar' => 'boz')
);
$foo = 'foo'; $bar = 'bar';
echo $array[$foo][$bar]; //boz
[/CODE]

You could capture the array keys though, but I'd guess that if you expand upon what you're trying to do there will be a better solution. :)

[Tekkerson]

What Anthony said. You can't replace the syntax with your own strings.

It's like saying:

$function_end = ()

some_function$function_end;

Just doesn't make sense to me. Do it the proper way.

Or maybe you're doing something wrong in the first place, nothing should make you want to replace the syntax itself.

What are you trying to do?

[Jayzee]

What are you trying to do?

Templating engine.

[MattehCarter]

I think this is what you're trying to do...

<?php
$array = array (
   "foo" => array(
	 "bar" => "abc",
	 "baz" => "CBA"
	)
  );

$name = "['foo']['bar']";
var_dump ($array . $name);
?>
[/CODE]

With the code $array[$string] you are basically trying to find $array[['foo']['bar']]; which is invalid, whereas by printing it as $array . $name, it becomes $array['foo']['bar'];

Bad explanation, but I hope you understand :)

[b]Edit[/b]

Damn! I just noticed that code doesn't even work. The code I provided now echos Array['foo']['bar'];

[b]Edit #2[/b]

On further research, and asking other PHP programmers, we don't think it's possible and aren't really sure why you would want to do it this way. If you can give us an example of how your template system works, we may be able to help you with another system to grab the template data?

[Tekkerson]

Templating engine.

Instead of reinventing the wheel why don't you use something like http://twig.sensiolabs.org/ ?

One of the most widely used, arguably the best templating engine for professional developers, you can't go wrong with twig.

[Jayzee]

Yes, I looked into every templating engine available for PHP (incl. Twig) and found them bloated with bunch of extras I don't need, therefore I decided to create my own templating engine (I have already developed file caching engine which works just great and which templating engine now uses). I have analyzed source of most popular templating engines and created my own mini-templating engine based on best practices learned by analyzing source and reading articles (improving your skills as a developer is also a big +). I no longer use method array-replace method I asked about earlier :)