3 Div column classes from a Foreach - php

Question

I'd like to get this code to actually work.
What I'm trying to get is my items separated into 3 columns.
I would also like to call the columns "first", "second", and "third", instead of
class0, class1 and class2
This code isn't working since all my items get called class0
<?php
$count = 0;
foreach ($this->items as $item) {
$count = $count == 3 ? 0 : $count++;
?>
<div class="<?php echo "class".$count ?>">

Answer 1

No need for the == 3 test, a simple:
<div class="classs<?php echo $count++ % 3?>">
would do the trick. Modulo math:
$count = 0 -> 0 % 3 = 0
$count = 1 -> 1 % 3 = 1
$count = 2 -> 2 % 3 = 2
$count = 3 -> 3 % 3 = 0
$count = 4 -> 4 % 3 = 1
etc...
You code is not working because $count++ is returning count's first FIRST, then incrementing the value. But since that original value is returned and assigned back to $count, you continually assign 0 over and over and over.
If you'd done ++$count, then it would have worked. (increment THEN return the new value)

Answer 2

This should work:
<?php
$count = 0;
$names = ['first','second','third'];
foreach ($this->items as $item) :
?>
<div class="class-<?=$names[$count++%3] ?>">
<?php
endforeach;
?>

Answer 3

You can use any of these codes:
1st way:
<?php
$count = 0;
foreach ($this->items as $item) {
$count = $count == 3 ? 0 : $count++;
switch ($count){
case 1: echo "<div class='first' >";break;
case 2: echo "<div class='second' >";break;
case 3: echo "<div class='third' >";break;
}
}
?>
2nd way:
<?php
$count = 0;
$name = null;
foreach ($this->items as $item) {
$count = $count == 3 ? 0 : $count++;
$name = ($count == 1 ) ? 'first': ( $count == 2 ) ? 'second': 'third';
}
?>
<div class="<?php echo $name ?>" >

Answer 4

You can use arrays with hard coded values like :
<?php
$numbers = array('first','second','third');
foreach ($this->items as $item):
$count = $count == 3 ? 0 : $count++;
?>
<div class="<?php echo "class_".$numbers[$count] ?>">
<?php endforeach; ?>

Answer 5

<?php
$count = 0;
foreach ($this->items as $item) {
if ($count==0) {
$class = "first";
$count++;
} else if ($count==1) {
$class = "second";
$count++;
} else {
$class = "third";
$count = 0;
}
?>
<div class="<?php echo $class ?>">
Something like this should work though a select case may be quicker