How to append count to variables in php - php

Question

I am just starting to learn PHP and to compound the issue I am trying to modify existing code to match what I am attempting to do. I have multiple variables I am trying to define all while partially using a counter. My problem is appending the count to my individually defined variables. Also, I'm sure there is a cleaner way to do this (like a loop or nested array), I just can't see how.
<?php
$pageId0 = opt('first_tab_page');
$post0 = get_post($pageId0);
$content0 = apply_filters('the_content', $post0->post_content);
$icon0 = wp_get_attachment_image_src( get_post_thumbnail_id( $post0->ID ), 'full' );
$pageId1 = opt('second_tab_page');
$post1 = get_post($pageId1);
$content1 = apply_filters('the_content', $post1->post_content);
$icon1 = wp_get_attachment_image_src( get_post_thumbnail_id( $post1->ID ), 'full' );
$pageId2 = opt('third_tab_page');
$post2 = get_post($pageId2);
$content2 = apply_filters('the_content', $post2->post_content);
$icon2 = wp_get_attachment_image_src( get_post_thumbnail_id( $post2->ID ), 'full' );
?>
<div>
<?php echo $icon0[0]; ?>
</div>
<div>
<?php echo $icon1[0]; ?>
</div>
<div>
<?php echo $icon2[0]; ?>
</div>
<?php
$tab_position = opt('tab_position');
if ($tab_position == '' || count($tab_position) != 3) {
$tab_position = array(0, 1, 2);
}
for($i=0; $i < count($tab_position); $i++)
{
$selected = '';
if (opt('default_selected_tab') == $tab_position[$i]){
$selected = 'class="selected"';
}
?>
<a <?php echo $selected; ?> href="#tab<?php echo $tab_position[$i];?>">
<?php echo $content//should be 0 to start; ?>
</a>
<?php } ?>

Answer 1

Here is a short example on using arrays. comment in code
// Storing tab names to an array, just add more tabs if required
// and details for all those will be loaded in the following arrays
$tabs = array('first_tab_page', 'second_tab_page', 'third_tab_page');
//declare arrays to store (not required, but better practice)
$pageids = array();
$posts = array();
$content = array();
$icons = array();
//Iterate through the tabs array
foreach ($tabs as $tab){
//Store page id and post in a variable, we require it
$pageid = opt($tab);
$post = get_post($pageid);
// Store pageid in pageids. note the [] this means it will store pageid at next index
//also store other items
$pageids[] = $pageid;
$posts[] = $post;
$contents[] = apply_filters('the_content', $post->post_content);
$icons[] = wp_get_attachment_image_src( get_post_thumbnail_id( $post->ID ), 'full' );
}
now $icons[0] will contain first icon $icons[1] the second one and so on. Same thing applies to other variables.
Note: this code is just typed in here and not checked. Please fix if there is any syntax errors. Also note this is one way and there are more ways.
But I would suggest keeping data of each page together.
Edit: Here is how you can keep things together (only relevant parts shown)
$tabs = array('first_tab_page', 'second_tab_page', 'third_tab_page');
$pages = array();
foreach ($tabs as $tab){
$pageid = opt($tab);
$post = get_post($pageid);
$content = apply_filters('the_content', $post->post_content);
$icon = wp_get_attachment_image_src( get_post_thumbnail_id( $post->ID ), 'full' );
//Store everything to $pages array
$pages[] = array('pageid' => $pageid, 'post' => $post, 'content' => $content, 'icon', $icon);
}
foreach ($pages as $page){
?>
<div>
<?php echo $page['icon'][0]; ?>
</div>
<?php } ?>
foreach ($pages as $page){
?>
<a <?php echo $selected; ?> href="#tab<?php echo $tab_position[$i];?>">
<?php echo $page['content']; //echo the content of page ?>
</a>
<?php } ?>
Instead of foreach to display you can use index also like
<a <?php echo $selected; ?> href="#tab<?php echo $tab_position[$i];?>">
<?php echo $pages[0]['content']; //echo the content of the first page ?>
</a>
<a <?php echo $selected; ?> href="#tab<?php echo $tab_position[$i];?>">
<?php echo $pages[1]['content']; //echo the content of the second page ?>
</a>

Answer 2

I guess there is no other way then (nested) arrays. Also I'm thinking that arrays are a acceptable solution.
foreach ($tabs as $tab) {
$tab['content'] = 'somecontent';
$tab['counter'] = 'counter';
}
or
foreach ($tabs as $tab) {
$tab = [
"content" => "content",
"counter" => "counter"];
}

Answer 3

I'm not sure what you are trying to do as your question is not very clear to me. But i think you are trying to echo $content in your last line of code. If yes, just put your all your variables $content1, $content2 and $content3 in an array like below:
$contents = array($content1, $content2, $content3);
Then use foreach loop and traverse this array like this.
$count = 0;
foreach($contents as $content) {
echo $content.$count;
$count++;
}
Try and let me know if it works for you.