Bad array? Bad foreach? - php

Question

Sorry for the huge ignorance on the topic, but I really have no idea where to look other than this website when I come into trouble with my PHP.
What I'm trying to do here is use pre-designated IDs to call particular movies from a database. But all I get is an 'Invalid argument supplied for foreach()' message on the second and third foreach's below.
Here's my code in the head:
//Custom lists of movies to bring in
//New Releases list
$films_new_releases = array(40805, 46705, 41630, 44564, 39451, 20352, 43933, 49009, 49797, 42194);
//Most Popular list
$films_most_popular = array(27205, 16290, 10138, 41733, 37799, 18785, 19995, 17654, 10140, 12162);
//Get information from address bar
$list = $_GET['l'];
if ($list == 'new releases') {
$list_chosen = $films_new_releases;
}
elseif ($list == 'most popular') {
$list_chosen = $films_most_popular;
}
else {
$list_chosen = $films_new_releases;
}
And in amongst the body:
// Loop through each film returned
foreach ($list_chosen as $list_chosen_film) {
$films_result = $tmdb->getMovie($list_chosen_film);
$film = json_decode($films_result);
// Set default poster image to use if film doesn't have one
$backdrop_url = 'images/placeholder-film.gif';
// Loop through each poster for current film
foreach($film->backdrops as $backdrop) {
if ($backdrop->image->size == 'poster') {
$backdrop_url = $backdrop->image->url;
}
}
echo '<div class="view-films-film">
<img src="' . $backdrop_url . '" alt="' . $film->name . '" />
<div class="view-films-film-snippet">
<h2>' . $film->name . '</h2>';
if ($film->certification != null) {
echo '<img src="images/bbfc-' . strtolower($film->certification) . '.png" alt="" />';
}
echo ' <h3>Starring</h3>
<p>';
$num_actors = 0;
foreach ($film->cast as $cast) {
if ($cast->job == 'Actor') {
echo '' . $cast->name . ' ';
$num_actors++;
if ($num_actors == 5)
break;
}
echo ' </p>
<h3>Director</h3>
<p>';
foreach ($film->cast as $cast) {
if ($cast->job == 'Director') {
echo '' . $cast->name . ' ';
}
}
echo ' </p>
</div>
</div>';
}
// End films
}
The little testing I've done is checking what $list_chosen, $list_chosen_film, $films_result and $film actually contain by printing them at the bottom of the page.
$list_chosen shows - Array, $list_chosen_film shows - 42194, $films_result shows the entire JSON string, $film shows - Array.

Answer 1

Try adding:
print_r($film->backdrop);
before the second foreach() loop. Before the error message it won't be an array or it will contain zero elements (not allowed). If you also add:
echo $films_result;
you will be able to debug it and fully understand what is wrong. If not, post the whole output in your question.

Answer 2

This happens, because - as error displayed by PHP informed you - you have provided wrong parameter to foreach loop, probably null or some other value. Make sure you are providing array to foreach.
Also, every time you use foreach, do it like that:
if (count($some_list) > 0) {
foreach ($some_list as $list_item) {
// code for each item on the list
}
} else {
// code when there is nothing on the list
}
This will ensure you will not see errors just because there is nothing on the list.
EDIT:
On the documentation page you can find some tip how to avoid such errors if the collection you are trying to iterate through is empty. Just cast the collection to array type:
foreach ((array) $some_list as $list_item) {
// code for each item on the list
}

Answer 3

Can you provide a dump of $film? The error is telling you that you are pointing to an object that cannot be iterated through (most likely null).