Search array by key branch - php

Question

I have an array that looks like this:
$array = array (
[level_1] => array (
[level_2] => array (
[level_3] => something
)
),
[level_12] => array (
[level_2] => somethingelse
),
[level_13] => array (
[level_22] => array (
[level_3] => something
)
),
);
The keys or values aren't always unique but the branches are.
And I have a string that looks like this:
$string = 'level_1-level_2-level_3';
Those are the keys for a branch.
And I need to somehow get the value from the array based on that string?
Like this:
$string_array = explode('-', $string);
$array[$string_array[0]][$string_array[1]][$string_array[2]] // something
But since the depth can be different this is not a viable solution...

Answer 1

Try this simple example, no need for a recursive function:
function get_item( $path, $array )
{
$paths = explode( '-', $path );
$result = $array;
foreach ( $paths as $path) {
isset( $result[$path] ) ? $result = $result[$path] : $result = false;
}
return $result;
}
$path = 'level_1-level_2-level_3';
echo get_item( $path, $array );

Answer 2

Try this:
$array = array (
'level_1' => array (
'level_2' => array (
'level_3' => 'something'
)
),
'level_12' => array (
'level_2' => 'somethingelse'
),
'level_13' => array (
'level_22' => array (
'level_3' => 'something'
)
),
);
$string = 'level_1-level_2-level_3';
$keys = explode('-', $string);
echo getItemIterative($keys, $array);
echo "\n";
echo getItemRecursive($keys, $array);
function getItemIterative($keys, $array)
{
$value = null;
foreach ($keys as $key) {
if ($value == null) {
$value = $array[$key];
}
if (is_array($value) && array_key_exists($key, $value)) {
$value = $value[$key];
}
}
return $value;
}
function getItemRecursive($keys, $array)
{
$key = array_shift($keys);
$value = $array[$key];
if (empty($keys)) {
return $value;
} else {
return getItemRecursive($keys, $value);
}
}

Answer 3

Make a $result variable which initially points to the root of the array, and loop through the levels of your $string_array 'til $result points at the leaf you were looking for.
// stuff you already have:
$array = array(...); // your big array
$string = 'level_1-level_2-level_3';
$string_array = explode('-', $string);
// new stuff:
$result = $array;
foreach ($string_array as $level) {
$result = $result[$level];
}
echo $result; // 'something'
Working example: Ideone