Simple PHP array for storing text? - php

Question

I'm trying to learn some basic PHP but am running into some confusion around using arrays.
I have three "pools" of words. 20 words in each pool for a total of 60 words.
I need to store these in separate arrays, and then pull out a random selection from the array on click of a button. So each time the button is clicked, another four will be pulled from my array of 20 entries.
You can see my non-functioning page here: http://francesca-designed.me/create-a-status/
So the words on the side, when you click the button it'd run through the 20 words in the array and output them in each span, just four each time you click the button.
I looked on the PHP site and found this but I'm confused about which one to use.
Ultimately I would like to add this to a database as in the end if will be 50 words per pool, but for now I want to keep it all in one place while I practice.
<?php
$fruits = array (
"fruits" => array("a" => "orange", "b" => "banana", "c" => "apple"),
"numbers" => array(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6),
"holes" => array("first", 5 => "second", "third")
);
?>

Answer 1

There are two types of arrays:
array(
'key' => 'value',
'key' => 'value',
'key' => 'value',
)
and
array(
'value',
'value',
'value',
'value',
);
the latter is the same as:
array(
0 => 'value',
1 => 'value',
2 => 'value',
3 => 'value',
);
it's really how you want to use them...
if you loop through them with
foreach($array as $value) {
}
or
foreach($array as $key => $value) {
}
and there is no need for named keys, just use the second array.
edit:
$array = array(
'one' => array ('qwe1rty1','qwe1rty2','qwe1rty3'),
'two' => array ('qwe2rty1','qwe2rty2','qwe2rty3'),
'three' => array ('qwe3rty1','qwe3rty2','qwe3ert3'),
);
$array['one'][2] === 'qwe1rty3' (index starts at 0)
$array['three'][0] === 'qwe3rty1'
foreach($array['one'] as $key => $value) {
echo $key .' : ' $value;
}
gives
0 : qwe1rty1
1 : qwe1rty2
2 : qwe1rty3

Answer 2

Here is an example that is similar to what you're describing:
$words = array("tasty", "wretched", "simple", "gnarly", "fruitful", "cleeeever");
echo $words[1]; //prints wretched
for($i=0;$i<4;$i++) {//prints array in original order
echo $words[$i].'<br/>';
}
shuffle($words);
for($i=0;$i<4;$i++) {//prints shuffled array
echo $words[$i].'<br/>';
}