Multidimensional Array search by string - php

Question

I have a multidimensional array that's contains all user data , and I've build a function to get array value with the given key .
the problem is that the array is multidimensional array , and I don't know how many level .
this is the function
function getUserSessionData($key)
{
$arrKeys = explode('.', $key);
if(count($arrKeys) == 1){
if(isset($_SESSION['user_data'][$arrKeys[0]])){
return $_SESSION['user_data'][$arrKeys[0]];
}
}
else{
if(isset($_SESSION['user_data'][$arrKeys[0]][$arrKeys[1]])){
return $_SESSION['user_data'][$arrKeys[0]][$arrKeys[1]];
}
}
return 0;
}
and this is an example of the call.
getUserSessionData('profile.firstName');
The (.) indicates of level of the array .
the function is support only tow levels .. is there any way to enhance this function so it can support more than tow levels ??

Answer 1

Sure, use a looping structure:
function getUserSessionData($key) {
$parts = explode('.', $key);
$data = $_SESSION["user_data"];
while (count($parts) > 0) {
$part = array_shift($parts);
$data = $data[$part];
}
return $data;
}
Or independently of the session:
function resolveKey($array, $key) {
$parts = explode('.', $key);
while (count($parts) > 0) {
$part = array_shift($parts);
$array = $array[$part];
}
return $array;
}
echo resolveKey(array(
"foo" => array(
"bar" => array(
"baz" => "ipsum"
)
)
), "foo.bar.baz"); // "ipsum"
echo resolveKey($_SESSION["user_data"], 'profile.firstName');

Answer 2

Here's a PHP-Fiddle
function getUserSessionData($key){
$arrKeys = explode('.', $key);
$data = $_SESSION['user_data'];
foreach($arrKeys as $k){
if(isset($data[$k])) $data = $data[$k];
else return false;
}
return $data;
}
Example usage:
session_start();
$_SESSION['user_data'] = [];
$_SESSION['user_data']['user'] = [];
$_SESSION['user_data']['user']['name'] = [];
$_SESSION['user_data']['user']['name']['first'] = "robert";
echo getUserSessionData("user.name.first"); // echos "robert"

Answer 3

Thank you #Halcyon
you've been very helpful.
but I've modified your function to get it to work .
this is the new function
function getUserSessionData($key) {
$data = Yii::app()->session['account_data']['user_data'];
$parts = explode('.', $key);
while (count($parts) > 0) {
$part = $parts[0];
if(!isset($data[$part])){
return 0;
}
$data = $data[$part];
array_shift($parts);
}
return $data;
}