PHP error: array object converted into an associative array - php

Question

I am making a CRUD application using Codeigniter 3.
Whenever I edit a record and the data is invalid, instead of just showing the validation error messages, the browser outputs the message: Trying to get property of non-object.
My update function inside the controller looks like this:
public function update($customer_id) {
// data validation
$this->form_validation->set_rules('first_name', 'First name', 'required');
$this->form_validation->set_rules('last_name', 'Last name', 'required');
$this->form_validation->set_rules('email', 'Email address', 'required|valid_email');
$this->form_validation->set_rules('phone', 'Phone number', 'required');
$this->form_validation->set_rules('country', 'Country', 'required');
$this->form_validation->set_error_delimiters('<p class="error">', '</p>');
if ($this->form_validation->run()) {
$data = [
// insert into these database table fields
'first_name' => $this->input->post('first_name'),
'last_name' => $this->input->post('last_name'),
'email' => $this->input->post('email'),
'phone' => $this->input->post('phone'),
'country' => $this->input->post('country'),
'city' => $this->input->post('city'),
'address' => $this->input->post('address')
];
$this->load->model('Customer');
if ($this->Customer->updateCustomer($customer_id, $data)) {
$this->session->set_flashdata('update-response','Customer successfully updated');
} else {
$this->session->set_flashdata('update-response','Failed to update customer');
}
redirect('home');
} else {
$data = [
'first_name' => $this->input->post('first_name'),
'last_name' => $this->input->post('last_name'),
'email' => $this->input->post('email'),
'phone' => $this->input->post('phone'),
'country' => $this->input->post('country'),
'city' => $this->input->post('city'),
'address' => $this->input->post('address'),
'id' => $customer_id
];
$this->load->view('update', ['customer' => $data]);
}
}
If the data in the update form is valid there are no errors. the form looks like this:
<?php echo form_open("home/update/{$customer->id}"); ?>
<div class="form-group <?php if(form_error('first_name')) echo 'has-error';?>">
<?php echo form_input('first_name', set_value('first_name', $customer->first_name),[
'id' => 'first_name',
'class' => 'form-control'
]);
if(form_error('first_name')) echo '<span class="glyphicon glyphicon-remove"></span>';
echo form_error('first_name'); ?>
</div>
<div class="form-group <?php if(form_error('last_name')) echo 'has-error';?>">
<?php echo form_input('last_name', set_value('last_name', $customer->last_name), [
'id' => 'last_name',
'class' => 'form-control'
]);
if(form_error('last_name')) echo '<span class="glyphicon glyphicon-remove"></span>';
echo form_error('last_name'); ?>
</div>
<div class="form-group <?php if(form_error('email')) echo 'has-error';?>">
<?php echo form_input('email', set_value('email', $customer->email), [
'id' => 'email',
'class' => 'form-control'
]);
if(form_error('email')) echo '<span class="glyphicon glyphicon-remove"></span>';
echo form_error('email'); ?>
</div>
<div class="form-group <?php if(form_error('phone')) echo 'has-error';?>">
<?php echo form_input('phone', set_value('phone', $customer->phone), [
'id' => 'phone',
'class' => 'form-control'
]);
if(form_error('phone')) echo '<span class="glyphicon glyphicon-remove"></span>';
echo form_error('phone'); ?>
</div>
<div class="form-group <?php if(form_error('country')) echo 'has-error';?>">
<?php echo form_input('country', set_value('country', $customer->country), [
'id' => 'country',
'class' => 'form-control'
]);
if(form_error('country')) echo '<span class="glyphicon glyphicon-remove"></span>';
echo form_error('country'); ?>
</div>
<div class="form-group">
<?php echo form_input('city', set_value('city', $customer->city), [
'id' => 'city',
'class' => 'form-control'
]);
?>
</div>
<div class="form-group">
<?php echo form_input('address', set_value('city', $customer->address), [
'id' => 'address',
'class' => 'form-control'
]);
?>
</div>
<div class="form-group">
<?php echo form_submit('submit', 'Save', 'class = "btn btn-success btn-block"'); ?>
</div>
<?php echo form_close(); ?>
I believe $customer is turned into an associative array and this is the reason for the error message: Trying to get property of non-object. But what is causing this conversion? Or is the cause of the problem completely different?

Answer 1

But what is causing this conversion?
Nothing, you pass an array and you get an array which you try to access like an object.
In your example, $data is an array, but in your view you are accessing it like an object.
If you really want to access it like an object, cast the array to object:
$this->load->view('update', ['customer' => (object)$data]);