remove duplicate arrays in loop - php

Question

I have an associative array that might contain duplicates. I am trying to loop through the array and compare the current element with the next element in the array. If there is a duplicate, it should be removed.
The code below removes one instance of the element. In the test array I'm using, I have 3 duplicate part numbers, but my code only removes one. I'm left with two. I only want one to remain.
$length = count($items);
for($i = 0; $i < $length -1; $i++){
if($items[$i]['part_number'] == $items[$i+1]['part_number']){
unset($items[$i+1]);
$items = array_values($items);
}
}
What am I doing wrong here?

Answer 1

You need to loop backwards through the array, and delete the current item.
$length = count($items);
for($i = $length - 1; $i > 0; $i--){
if($items[$i]['part_number'] == $items[$i-1]['part_number']){
unset($items[$i]);
}
}

Answer 2

becuase your code is
The $ items value is in the for statement.
if you want unique array, you have to array_unique function
http://php.net/manual/en/function.array-unique.php

Answer 3

In your case after you unset element, $i++ in for loop, you reindexed your array and you skip one element. Add $i-- if you unset item. Or you can reindex your array after for loop.

Answer 4

This is also a very simple example you can start improving with.
<?php
$test = ['sample', 'sample', 'sample', 'not', 'not', 'no', 'no'];
$test2 = [];
$k = 0;
foreach ($test as $key => $value) {
if ($key == 0) {
$test2[$k] = $value;
$k++;
} else {
if ($test2[$k - 1] != $value) {
$test2[$k] = $value;
$k++;
}
}
}
$test = $test2;
var_dump($test);

Answer 5

One dirty hack is to check again if you have a duplicate by decreasing $i.
for($i = 0; $i < $length -1; $i++){
if($items[$i]['part_number'] == $items[$i+1]['part_number']){
unset($items[$i+1]);
$items = array_values($items);
$i--;
}
}
This way it will again test your previous value against next item in array.
So if 0==1, then next time if 0==2.
Your code did 0==1 then (2)==(3).