How to synchronously nest subarrays from one array into subarrays of another? - php

Question

I have 2 multi-dimensional arrays:
$category = array (
37 = array (id=1, name=joe, boss=kev)
73 = array (id=55, name=diane, boss=rox)
11 = array (id=4, name=bideo, boss=julia)
)
$other_variable = array (
1 = array (
picture1 = array (name=zee, id=4),
picture2 = array (name=izzy, id=1)
)
2 = array (
picture1 = array (name=foo, id=55),
picture2 = array (name=ido, id=44)
)
3 = array (
picture1 = array (name=wheez, id=87),
picture2 = array (name=ardu, id=9)
)
)
I want to combine them so that
$category = array (
37 = array (
id=1,
name=joe,
boss=kev,
other_variable = array (
picture1 = array (name=zee, id=4),
picture2 = array (name=izzy, id=1)
),
73 = array (
id=55,
name=diane,
boss=rox,
other_variable = array (
picture1 = array (name=foo, id=55),
picture2 = array (name=ido, id=44)
),
11 = array (
id=4,
name=bideo,
boss=julia,
other_variable = array (
picture1 = array (name=wheez, id=87),
picture2 = array (name=ardu, id=9)
)
)
I have tried
$new_array = array_map(null, $category, $other_variable);
That combines the two arrays, but it creates several nested levels in the array. I am looking for something much cleaner that maintains $category as the parent array.

Answer 1

Are you expecting something like this? Here we are using next and current function for incrementing internal pointer of array and getting current value.
Try this code snippet here
foreach($category as &$value)
{
$value["other_variable"]=current($other_variable);
next($other_variable);
}
print_r($category);

Answer 2

You were kind of on the right path with your use of array_map() to synchronously iterate two arrays, but sadly that function is going to kill your first level keys.
From the array_map() manual:
The returned array will preserve the keys of the array argument if and only if exactly one array is passed. If more than one array is passed, the returned array will have sequential integer keys.
array_walk() is going to be a cleaner / more appropriate function call for your task of modifying the $category array. array_walk() allows you to modify your $category array and synchronously iterate your $other_variable array (as the optional userdata parameter) without any additional iterated function calls (e.g. next()).
Code: (Demo)
$category=[
37=>["id"=>1,"name"=>"joe","boss"=>"kev"],
73=>["id"=>55,"name"=>"diane","boss"=>"rox"],
11=>["id"=>4,"name"=>"bideo","boss"=>"julia"]
];
$other_variable=[
1=>["picture1"=>["name"=>"zee","id"=>4],"picture2"=>["name"=>"izzy","id"=>1]],
2=>["picture1"=>["name"=>"foo","id"=>55],"picture2"=>["name"=>"ido","id"=>44]],
3=>["picture1"=>["name"=>"wheez","id"=>87],"picture2"=>["name"=>"ardu","id"=>9]]
];
array_walk($category,function(&$v,$k,$ov){$v['other_variable']=current($ov);},$other_variable);
var_export($category);
Output:
array (
37 =>
array (
'id' => 1,
'name' => 'joe',
'boss' => 'kev',
'other_variable' =>
array (
'picture1' =>
array (
'name' => 'zee',
'id' => 4,
),
'picture2' =>
array (
'name' => 'izzy',
'id' => 1,
),
),
),
73 =>
array (
'id' => 55,
'name' => 'diane',
'boss' => 'rox',
'other_variable' =>
array (
'picture1' =>
array (
'name' => 'zee',
'id' => 4,
),
'picture2' =>
array (
'name' => 'izzy',
'id' => 1,
),
),
),
11 =>
array (
'id' => 4,
'name' => 'bideo',
'boss' => 'julia',
'other_variable' =>
array (
'picture1' =>
array (
'name' => 'zee',
'id' => 4,
),
'picture2' =>
array (
'name' => 'izzy',
'id' => 1,
),
),
),
)
Late Edit:
Additional methods that modify the $other_variable array (effectively empty it when the iterative process resolves) include:
$category=array_map(function($v)use(&$other_variable){
return $v+=['other_variable'=>array_shift($other_variable)];
},$category);
and
foreach($category as &$value){
$value["other_variable"]=array_shift($other_variable);
}
Obviously, these methods should only be used if you do not intend to use $other_variable down script or you are going to declare a copy of the array for later use.