Associative arrays are collections of key=>value pairs. The key in an associative array must be either a string or an integer. The values held can be any type. We use the =>
operator to associate a key with its value.
We can think of keys as pointing to their values since the key points the computer to the space in memory where the value is stored.
$my_array = ["panda" => "very cute", "lizard" => "cute", "cockroach" => "not very cute"];
In the code above, we created an associative array using short array syntax. $my_array
has three key=>value pairs:
- The key
"panda"
points to the value"very cute"
. - The key
"lizard"
points to the value"cute"
. - The key
"cockroach"
points to the value"not very cute"
.
We can also build associative arrays using the PHP array()
function.
$about_me = array( "fullname" => "Aisle Nevertell", "social" => 123456789 );
In the code above, we created an associative array, $about_me
, with two key=>value pairs:
- The key
"fullname"
points to the value"Aisle Nevertell"
. - The key
"social"
points to the value123456789
.
Let’s make some arrays!
Instructions
Use the array()
function to create an array $php_array
which has the following key => value pairs:
- The key
"language"
should point to the value"PHP"
. - The key
"creator"
should point to the value"Rasmus Lerdorf"
. - The key
"year_created"
should point to the value1995
. - The key
"filename_extensions"
should point to the value[".php", ".phtml", ".php3", ".php4", ".php5", ".php7", ".phps", ".php-s", ".pht", ".phar"]
(an ordered array).
Use the short array syntax to create an array $php_short
which has the same key => value pairs.