Search for element in large array using php - php

Question

I have two arrays: One generated from data extracted from a mySQL database with more than 100k elements. Each element is an associative array.
Now, I need to get each element from the second array and search for it (using certain keys to compare) in the first array and, if it doesn't exist, then add it.
Example:
$array1 = [
[
'uuid' => 001,
'name' => 'Isaak',
'surname' => 'Newton',
],
[
'uuid' => 002,
'name' => 'George',
'surname' => 'Washington',
],
[
'uuid' => 003,
'name' => 'Harry',
'surname' => 'Potter',
],
[
'uuid' => 004,
'name' => 'John',
'surname' => 'Doe',
],
[
'uuid' => 005,
'name' => 'Jack',
'surname' => 'Daniels',
],
[
'uuid' => 007,
'name' => 'Donnie',
'surname' => 'Trump',
],
[
'uuid' => 008,
'name' => 'Donnie',
'surname' => 'Trump',
]
];
Then, the second array
$array2 = [
[
'name' => 'Carl',
'surname' => 'Sagan',
],
[
'name' => 'Giorgio',
'surname' => 'Armani',
],
[
'name' => 'Harry',
'surname' => 'Potter',
]
];
In this example Carl Sagan and Giorgio Armani will be added to $array1. Currently I'm looping $array1 looking if there is an element with the same name and surname. If it doesn't, then add it.
The problem is, with the number of values that I have, the script is taking more than 2 hours to finish.
The function that I'm using to check if the element already exists is this:
foreach ($array2 as $array2Element)
foreach ($array1 as $array1Element) {
if ($array1Element['name'] == $array2Element['name'] &&
$array1Element['surname'] == $array2Element['surname']
) {
// Both keys matched, the element already exists!
$found = true;
break;
}
}
}
Is there any more efficient way to do this?
PS: The data comes as an array that I cannot control. I can add new keys if it helps, but I cannot change it another data structure.

Answer 1

Index both your arrays to use the comparison criteria as key. E.g.:
$array1 = [
'Isaak|Newton' => [
'uuid' => 001,
'name' => 'Isaak',
'surname' => 'Newton'
],
...
];
Make sure you create a unique key, so two different names won't concatenate to the same key accidentally.
Add both arrays together:
$array3 = $array1 + $array2;
Remove the keys again:
$array3 = array_values($array3);