PHP offers us a special type of array called an Associative Array that allows us to create an array with Key-Value pairs. The syntax for creating an Associative Array is as follows:
Syntax 1: Using array() constructor
$arrayVariable = array(
key1 => value1,
key2 => value2,
key3 => value3,
...
keyN => valueN,
);
Syntax 2: Using shorthand notation
$arrayVariable = [
key1 => value1,
key2 => value2,
key3 => value3,
...
keyN => valueN,
];
Note:
- The comma after the last Key-Value pair is optional.
- The Key can be of either integer or string type.
- The Value can be of any valid type.
- If the type of Key is other that string or integer, it will be cast to string or integer depending on the type of Key.
Example 1: Using array() constructor
<?php $websites = array( "Facebook" => "Facebook, Inc. is an online social media and social networking service company.", "Twitter" => "Twitter is a microblogging and social networking service on which users post and interact with messages known as tweets.", "LinkedIn" => "LinkedIn is a business and employment-oriented service that operates via websites and mobile apps."); $websites["Instagram"] = "Instagram is a photo and video-sharing social networking service owned by Facebook, Inc."; foreach ($websites as $key => $value) { echo "<p>$key: $value <p>"; } ?> |
Output:
Example 2: Using shorthand notation
<?php $websites = [ "Facebook" => "Facebook, Inc. is an online social media and social networking service company.", "Twitter" => "Twitter is a microblogging and social networking service on which users post and interact with messages known as tweets.", "LinkedIn" => "LinkedIn is a business and employment-oriented service that operates via websites and mobile apps."]; $websites[ "Instagram"] = "Instagram is a photo and video-sharing social networking service owned by Facebook, Inc."; foreach ($websites as $key => $value) { echo "<p>$key: $value <p>"; } ?> |
Output:
