Search Json array inside a col with php sql query - php

Question

I need some help please.
Currently my mariadb is set up with one column as a json array.
I would like to search the array from a users input, then combine it with the first and last name of the user stored in the database.
In the database:
Columns: firstname, lastname and suburbs_i_cover (containing the json array)
ex: ["Pretoria","Cape Town","Garden Route"]
I would like the sql statement that would search the suburbs_i_cover and allow me to combine the first and last name.
So far I have this:
<?php
//echo JUri::getInstance();
if (isset($_GET['category'])) {
$catetogry = $_GET['category'];
$name = $_GET['name'];
$db = JFactory::getDBO();
$query = $db->getQuery(true);
$query = ("SELECT * FROM #__jsn_users"); //not sure what goes here
$db->setQuery($query);
$results = $db->loadObjectList();
foreach($results as $obj) {
$value = json_decode($obj->suburbs_i_cover);
$value = array_filter($value, 'strlen'); //removes null values
but leaves "0"
$value = array_filter($value); //removes all null
values
if (!empty($value)) {
$value2 = $obj->firstname;
$value3 = $obj->lastname;
echo $value2 . ' '. $value3;
//echo "<br>";
// echo sizeof($value);
echo "<br>";
if (is_array($value)) {
foreach ($value as $sub_value) {
echo $sub_value;
echo "<br>";
}
}
echo "<br>";
echo "<hr>";
}
}
}

Answer 1

I got a working solution:
To use: in_array($name, $value)
<?php
//echo JUri::getInstance();
if (isset($_GET['category'])) {
$catetogry = $_GET['category'];
$name = $_GET['name'];
$db = JFactory::getDBO();
$query = $db->getQuery(true);
$query = ("SELECT * FROM #__jsn_users");
$db->setQuery($query);
$results = $db->loadObjectList();
foreach($results as $obj) {
$value = json_decode($obj->suburbs_i_cover);
$value = array_filter($value, 'strlen'); //removes null values
but leaves "0"
$value = array_filter($value); //removes all null
values
if (in_array($name, $value)) {
$value2 = $obj->firstname;
$value3 = $obj->lastname;
echo $value2 . ' '. $value3;
echo "<br>";
echo "<hr>";
}
}
}
?>