Core PHP Programming, Third Edition

Chapter 5. Arrays

Topics in This Chapter

• Single-Dimensional Arrays

• Indexing Arrays

• Initializing Arrays

• Multidimensional Arrays

• Casting Arrays

• The + Operator

• Referencing Arrays Inside Strings

Arrays collect values into lists. You refer to an element in an array using an index, which is often an integer but can also be a string. The value of the element can be text, a number, or even another array. When you build arrays of arrays, you get multidimensional arrays. Arrays are used extensively by PHP's built-in functions, and coding would be nearly impossible without them. There are many functions designed simply for manipulating arrays. They are discussed in detail in Chapter 11.