Navigating a multidimensional array with dynamic - php

Question

I'm trying to figure out why it is that I cannot access the follow array with this statement:
var_dump($thevar[0]['product_id']);
Array
(
[d142d425a5487967a914b6579428d64b] => Array
(
[product_id] => 253
[variation_id] =>
[variation] =>
[quantity] => 1
[data] => WC_Product Object
(
[id] => 253
[product_custom_fields] => Array
(
[_edit_last] => Array
(
[0] => 1
)
[_edit_lock] => Array
(
[0] => 1345655854:1
)
[_thumbnail_id] => Array
(
[0] => 102
)
I can, however, access the 'product_id' using the dynamically created array name:
print_r($thevar['d142d425a5487967a914b6579428d64b']['product_id']);
The issue is, I don't know what that dynamic name is going to be on the fly...

Answer 1

There are several options for such scenarios.
Manually iterate over the array
You can use reset, next, key and/or each to iterate over the array (perhaps partially).
For example, to grab the first item regardless of key:
$item = reset($thevar);
Reindex the array
Sometimes it's just convenient to be able to index into the array numerically, and a small performance hit is not a problem. In that case you can reindex using array_values:
$values = array_values($thevar);
$item = $values[0]; // because $values is numerically indexed
Iterate with foreach
This would work for a single value as well as it works for more, but it might give the wrong impression to readers of the code.
foreach($thevar as $item) {
// do something with $item
}

Answer 2

If the array key is dynamic you might find the PHP function array_keys() useful.
It will return an array of the keys used in an array. You can then use this to access a particular element in the array.
See here for more:
http://php.net/manual/en/function.array-keys.php

Answer 3

Because PHP array are associative therefor you have to access them by key.
But you may use reset($thevar) to get first item.
Or array_values():
array_values($thevar)[0]
Or if you feel like overkill you may also use array_keys() and use the [0] element to address element like this:
$thevar[ array_keys($thevar)[0]]