Create a loop using associative arrays - php

Question

I want to put this in a loop because it needs to be repeated 6 times, is it true that using variable variables is a bad practice? Do I need associative arrays?
Basically the 'c1' inside the variable needs to progressively change into 'c2', 'c3'...etc
<?php if ($pm_c1_djwd !== '') { ?>
<div>
<span style="width:<?php echo $pm_width_c1;?>%"></span>
<span><?php echo $pm_description_c1; ?></span>
</div>
<?php } ?>
Many Thanks

Answer 1

Why not try regular arrays?
<?php
// Warning: Typed raw in the textarea
$pm_width = array(100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100);
$pm_description = array(
"Gizmo",
"Doodad",
"Widget",
"Dohicky",
"Thing-me-a-bob",
"Marvelous toy my father gave to me."
);
$pm_c1_djwd = "Snod";
if ($pm_c1_djwd !== '') {
for ($i = 0; $i < count($pm_description); $i++) {
$width = $pm_width[$i];
$desc = $pm_description[$i];
echo "<div>";
echo "<span style='width:${width}%'>$desc</span>";
echo '</div>';
echo PHP_EOL;
}
}
?>

Answer 2

Instead of having a variable for each field like $pm_description_c1, ..c2 and so on, put them in an associative array:
$pms = array(
array('description' => 'your description', 'width' => '123px', 'djwd' = 'what'),
array('description' => 'Second item', 'width' => '123px', 'djwd' = '')
);
Then loop through them:
<?php
foreach ($pms as $pm) {
if ($pm['djwd' !== '') {
?>
<div>
<span style="width:<?php echo $pm['width'];?>%"></span>
<span><?php echo $pm['description']; ?></span>
</div>
<?php
}
}
?>

Answer 3

You can use variable variables for the thing you are asking...
<?php
$i = 0;
while( $i < 6 ){
$i ++;
$variable = "pm_c".$i."_djwd";
$variable2 = "pm_description_c".$i."";
if (isset($$variable) && $$variable != '') { ?>
<div>
<span style="width:<?php echo $$variable;?>%"></span>
<span><?php echo $$variable2; ?></span>
</div>
<?php }
}