Create recursive function from array in php - php

Question

I have a situation showed in the PHP code below, and I want to make a recursive function called check_recursive().
I have made the check_recursive() function below, but I want a recursive function, if it is possible.
Thank You!
$menu = '[{"id":"3|case_studies","children":[{"id":"2|case_studies","children":[{"id":"1|custom_links","children":[{"id":"2|faqe"}]}]}]},{"id":"11|klientet","children":[{"id":"8|klientet","children":[{"id":"7|klientet"}]}]},{"id":"9|klientet","children":[{"id":"10|klientet"}]},{"id":"4|klientet"}]';
$old_menu = json_decode($menu, true);
$new_menu = $this->check_recursive($old_menu);
function check_recursive($old_menu)
{
$i = 0;
$new_menu = [];
foreach ($old_menu as $menu_item)
{
if($name = $this->check_menu($menu_item['id']))
{
$new_menu[$i]['id'] = $menu_item['id'] . '|' . $name;
if(isset($menu_item['children']))
{
$e = 0;
foreach ($menu_item['children'] as $menu_item)
{
if($name = $this->check_menu($menu_item['id']))
{
$new_menu[$i]['children'][$e]['id'] = $menu_item['id'] . '|' . $name;
if(isset($menu_item['children']))
{
$y = 0;
foreach ($menu_item['children'] as $menu_item)
{
if($name = $this->check_menu($menu_item['id']))
{
$new_menu[$i]['children'][$e]['children'][$y]['id'] = $menu_item['id'] . '|' . $name;
if(isset($menu_item['children']))
{
$a = 0;
foreach ($menu_item['children'] as $menu_item)
{
if($name = $this->check_menu($menu_item['id']))
{
$new_menu[$i]['children'][$e]['children'][$y]['children'][$a]['id'] = $menu_item['id'] . '|' . $name;
}
$a++;
}
}
}
$y++;
}
}
}
$e++;
}
}
}
$i++;
}
return $new_menu;
}
function check_menu($string){
//Check if string exists in database
if($string){
return 'String exists';
}
return false;
}

Answer 1

I came up with this :
$menu = '[{"id":"3|case_studies","children":[{"id":"2|case_studies","children":[{"id":"1|custom_links","children":[{"id":"2|faqe"}]}]}]},{"id":"11|klientet","children":[{"id":"8|klientet","children":[{"id":"7|klientet"}]}]},{"id":"9|klientet","children":[{"id":"10|klientet"}]},{"id":"4|klientet"}]';
$old_menu = json_decode($menu, true);
$new_menu = check_recursive($old_menu);
function check_recursive($old_menu)
{
$new_menu = array();
foreach ($old_menu as $item) {
$name = check_menu($item['id']);
if($name){
$new_item = array(
'id' => $item['id'] . '|' . $name,
);
if(isset($item['children'])){
$new_item['children'] = check_recursive($item['children']);
}
$new_menu[] = $new_item;
}
}
return $new_menu;
}
function check_menu($string)
{
//Check if string exists in database
if ($string) {
return 'String exists';
}
return false;
}
Let me know if it suits your needs.