PHP Multidimensional Array Value Replacement - php

Question

I have been working on a project recently for fun.
It retrieves JSON from a game server, decodes it into an array, and then saves the array values into a SQLite DB (for display / manipulation later). I am new to programming in general, and have never touched PHP prior to this.
My question: Is there a better, more efficient way to handle this?
Basically, this section of code, loops through the large multidimensional array, and replaces values that are equal to a string. It does this prior to insertion into the DB so that I can have fields formatted to be more readable.
The problem is that in the actual script I have a huge list of defined variables now, and like 3 foreach loops with a combined 15 or so if/else if/else statements.
$sr = "Summoners Rift";
$rs = "Ranked Solo";
$rt = "Ranked Team";
$nr = "Normal";
foreach ($history['games'] as &$typeMode)
{
if ($typeMode['subType'] == 'RANKED_SOLO_5x5')
{
$typeMode['gameMode'] = $sr;
$typeMode['subType'] = $rs;
}
elseif ($typeMode['subType'] == 'RANKED_TEAM_5x5')
{
$typeMode['gameMode'] = $sr;
$typeMode['subType'] = $rt;
}
elseif ($typeMode['subType'] == 'NORMAL')
{
$typeMode['gameMode'] = $sr;
$typeMode['subType'] = $nr;
}
}

Answer 1

The problem is that in the actual script I have a huge list of defined
variables now, and like 3 foreach loops with a combined 15 or so IF /
ELSEIF / ELSE statements.
The best solution I can recommend based on the data your are showing is to just create a basic array of structures connected to the data you have and then just use the foreach loop to assign values based on that initial array structure:
// Set structured array values.
$array_values = array();
$array_values['RANKED_SOLO_5x5']['gameMode'] = "Summoners Rift";
$array_values['RANKED_SOLO_5x5']['subType'] = "Ranked Solo";
$array_values['RANKED_TEAM_5x5']['gameMode'] = "Summoners Rift";
$array_values['RANKED_TEAM_5x5']['subType'] = "Ranked Team";
$array_values['NORMAL']['gameMode'] = "Summoners Rift";
$array_values['NORMAL']['subType'] = "Normal";
// Set structured array values based on the sub type.
foreach ($history['games'] as &$typeMode) {
$typeMode['gameMode'] = $array_values[$typeMode['subType']]['gameMode'];
$typeMode['subType'] = $array_values[$typeMode['subType']]['subType'];
}
That way $array_values always has the preset values in place to begin with. And the assignment just happens via an array key access of $typeMode['subType'] in the foreach loop.

Answer 2

For things like this I prefer to use the switch control structure instead of if/elseif/else, although your approach is perfectly fine, if a little verbose maybe:
foreach ($history['games'] as &$typeMode)
{
$typeMode['gameMode'] = $sr;
switch($typeMode['subType'])
{
case 'RANKED_SOLO_5x5':
$typeMode['subType'] = $rs;
break;
case 'RANKED_TEAM_5x5':
$typeMode['subType'] = $rt;
break;
case 'NORMAL':
$typeMode['subType'] = $nr;
break;
}
}
Also if $typeMode['gameMode'] always equals $sr; then you only need that line once.