PHP JSON Parsing Issue - php

Question

I have this JSON output from a Government API, I need to display it using PHP. The problem is I can't use foreach more then once in a row or it doesn't work. I can't load all the criteria into the first foreach because say the first piece of data ACASS returns 3 results, all the fields after it will be displayed 3 times. Each field could return 1-10 results so there needs to be a system that accounts for variables.
I'm thinking the solution is to put all of the JSON items I need displayed into the first foreach but set them to only display if they're populated. That or use the current coding system I have but account for variable numbers somehow.
Any potential solutions are greatly appreciated.
This is the JSON output... https://api.data.gov/sam/v4/registrations/9606040070000?api_key=WI7nHENlp6QDMnWsb0Nnmzsv1slPDTjNM0XBoKvY
Here's the PHP I'm using...
echo "ACASS ID:".$decoded_results['sam_data']['registration']['qualifications']['acass']['id']."</br>";
foreach($decoded_results['sam_data']['registration']['qualifications']['acass']['answers'] as $acass)
{
echo 'Answer Text:'.$acass['answerText'].'</br>';
echo 'ACASS Section:'.$acass['section'].'</br>';
}
$formerfirm = $decoded_results['sam_data']['registration']['qualifications']['acass']['answers'][2]['FormerFirm'];
echo 'Former Firm ID:'.$formerfirm['id'].'</br>';
echo 'Former Firm Year Established:'.$formerfirm['yearEstablished'].'</br>';
echo 'Former Firm Name:'.$formerfirm['name'].'</br>';
echo 'Former Firm DUNS'.$formerfirm['duns'].'</br>';
I did my best to keep this short and simple question / code wise. In summary the issue is if you look at the JSON the data hierarchy makes a lot of the information display under ACASS/Answers and then the next category. I never know how many responses there will be and I'm not sure how to account for those variables.
I would like to thank everyone on these boards who has guided me as a new member and helped me post cleaner, more concise questions. Also thank you to everyone who has taken their own personal time to help me learn to become a better programmer.

Answer 1

use a tool like http://jsonviewer.stack.hu/ for visualizing your json structure. It helps a lot.
<?php
$url = "https://api.data.gov/sam/v4/registrations/9606040070000?api_key=WI7nHENlp6QDMnWsb0Nnmzsv1slPDTjNM0XBoKvY";
$contents = json_decode(file_get_contents($url));
// echo var_dump($contents);
$sam_data = $contents->sam_data;
// echo var_dump($sam_data);
$registration = $sam_data->registration;
//echo var_dump($registration);
$acass = $contents->sam_data->registration->qualifications->acass;
$id = $acass->id;
echo "id: ". $id . "<br />";
//echo var_dump($acass->answers);
foreach($acass->answers as $answer) {
if(isset($answer->FormerFirm)) {
$formerFirm = $answer->FormerFirm;
echo var_dump($formerFirm);
}
}