PHP Nested Array is misaligned - php

Question

I have a PHP loop that is pushing data into an array that will eventually be used to create a list of select options in my dropdown.
I feel like it is kinda close but I am doing something wrong somewhere.
The array of types needs to be part of the category it is associated with.
// Get the list of behavior types
public function _behavior_types()
{
$cat = $this->global_model->get_behavior_categories();
$typ = $this->global_model->get_behavior_types();
$output = array();
// Loop over our categories
foreach($cat as $c)
{
// Push the category name to an array
$output[] = $c['categoryName'];
// Loop over our types
foreach($typ as $t)
{
// If this type belongs to the category we are currently in, add it to the array
if($t['categoryID'] == $c['categoryID'])
{
array_push($output, $t);
}
}
}
return $output;
}
I have something out of place however and its causing the array to not be set up in the correct way.
Here is the current output:
Array
(
[0] => Negative
[1] => Array
(
[categoryID] => 2
[points] => -3
[typeID] => 4
[typeName] => Bad School Day
)
[2] => Positive
[3] => Array
(
[categoryID] => 1
[points] => 2
[typeID] => 1
[typeName] => Ate Dinner
)
[4] => Array
(
[categoryID] => 1
[points] => 2
[typeID] => 3
[typeName] => Brushed Teeth
)
[5] => Array
(
[categoryID] => 1
[points] => 3
[typeID] => 2
[typeName] => Completed Homework
)
)
Here is my desired output:
Array
(
[0] => Negative
[0] => Array
(
[categoryID] => 2
[points] => -3
[typeID] => 4
[typeName] => Bad School Day
)
[1] => Positive
[0] => Array
(
[categoryID] => 1
[points] => 2
[typeID] => 1
[typeName] => Ate Dinner
)
[1] => Array
(
[categoryID] => 1
[points] => 2
[typeID] => 3
[typeName] => Brushed Teeth
)
[2] => Array
(
[categoryID] => 1
[points] => 3
[typeID] => 2
[typeName] => Completed Homework
)
)
The dropdown in turn will look like:
Negative
Bad day at school
Positive
Ate Dinner
Brushed Teeth
Completed Homework

Answer 1

Your desired output is not really a valid array structure, at least how you have it typed. $output[0] cannot be both a string Negative and an array of options. I suggest making the category the key something like this:
// Get the list of behavior types
public function _behavior_types()
{
$cat = $this->global_model->get_behavior_categories();
$typ = $this->global_model->get_behavior_types();
$output = array();
// Loop over our categories
foreach($cat as $c)
{
// Push the category name to an array
$output[$c['categoryName']] = array();
// Loop over our types
foreach($typ as $t)
{
// If this type belongs to the category we are currently in, add it to the array
if($t['categoryID'] == $c['categoryID'])
{
array_push($output[$c['categoryName']], $t);
}
}
}
return $output;
}