How to Remove PHP Array Implode Character from Beginning of String - php

Question

I am working on a project that requires imploding an array with character separation. I have successfully used join and implode interchangeably in other parts of the project, but I can't get it to work in this section.
$dbQuery = "SELECT ftc.*, fc.name
FROM facilities f
LEFT JOIN facility_to_category ftc ON f.fid = ftc.fid
LEFT JOIN facility_categories fc ON ftc.cid = fc.cid
WHERE f.listing_year = '2011'
AND fc.parent_cid = '2'
AND f.fid = ('".$listing_fid."')";
$dbResult = $dbc->query($dbQuery,__FILE__,__LINE__);
$num_results = $dbc->num_rows($dbResult);
echo '<h3>Demographics</h3>
<div>';
while($catdata = $dbc->fetch($dbResult)) {
$demographics = array();
$demographic_names = array('',trim($catdata->name));
$demographics = implode(' '.chr(149).' ',$demographic_names);
print $demographics;
}
The result is this:
Demographics
• Affluent • Children • Hard-to-Reach • Parents
instead of
Demographics
Affluent • Children • Hard-to-Reach • Parents
I've tried using double quotes instead of single quotes around '.chr(149).'. I've tried using commas or bars or just spaces. I've tried different ways of trimming and not trimming $catdata->name.
I also thought about trying string concatenation, but then I'll end up with an extra character at the end instead of the beginning. Implode or join seem the better way to go.
What am I missing?

Answer 1

I am not sure I understand what you are trying to do, but why not use
$demographics_names = array();
while($catdata = $dbc->fetch($dbResult)) {
array_push($demographics_names, trim($catdata->name));
}
$demographics = implode(' '.chr(149).' ',$demographic_names);
print $demographics;

Answer 2

Thank you, everyone, for your help! I ended up reformatting the query and array. Here is the final code:
$dbQuery = "SELECT ftc.*, fc.name
FROM facilities f
LEFT JOIN facility_to_category ftc ON f.fid = ftc.fid
LEFT JOIN facility_categories fc ON ftc.cid = fc.cid
WHERE f.listing_year = '2011'
AND fc.parent_cid = '2'
AND f.fid = ('".$listing_fid."')";
$dbResult = $dbc->query($dbQuery,__FILE__,__LINE__);
$num_results = $dbc->num_rows($dbResult);
echo '<h3>Demographics</h3>
<div>';
while($catdata = $dbc->fetch($dbResult)) {
$demographics = array();
if (is_array($demographics)) {
$demographic_names[] = trim($catdata->name);
}
}
$demographics = join(' '.chr(149).' ',$demographic_names);
print $demographics;
The result is:
Demographics
Affluent • Children • Hard-to-Reach • Parents
Hopefully this will be helpful to someone else!

Answer 3

You're inserting a blank element into the array that you're imploding:
$demographic_names = array('',trim($catdata->name));
^--- here

Answer 4

Seems like you have a blank demographic_name. Use array_filter on the resulting array.

Answer 5

Check the first array is empty.
while($catdata = $dbc->fetch($dbResult)) {
$demographics = array();
$demographic_names = array('',trim($catdata->name));
if(!empty($demographic_names))
{
$demographics = implode(' '.chr(149).' ',$demographic_names);
print $demographics;
}
}