php: array_replace_recursive alternative - php

Question

I need a solution for array_replace_recursive, because my php-version isn't high enough. I want to use this code:
$_GET = array_replace_recursive($_GET, array("__amp__"=>"&"));
easy, isn't it?

Answer 1

On the PHP docs page for array_replace_recursive, someone posted the following source code to use in place of it:
<?php
if (!function_exists('array_replace_recursive'))
{
function array_replace_recursive($array, $array1)
{
function recurse($array, $array1)
{
foreach ($array1 as $key => $value)
{
// create new key in $array, if it is empty or not an array
if (!isset($array[$key]) || (isset($array[$key]) && !is_array($array[$key])))
{
$array[$key] = array();
}
// overwrite the value in the base array
if (is_array($value))
{
$value = recurse($array[$key], $value);
}
$array[$key] = $value;
}
return $array;
}
// handle the arguments, merge one by one
$args = func_get_args();
$array = $args[0];
if (!is_array($array))
{
return $array;
}
for ($i = 1; $i < count($args); $i++)
{
if (is_array($args[$i]))
{
$array = recurse($array, $args[$i]);
}
}
return $array;
}
}
?>

Answer 2

The code above by #Justin is ok, save for 2 things:
Function is not readily available at start of php execution be cause it is wrapped in if(). PHP docu says
When a function is defined in a conditional manner such as the two examples shown. Its definition must be processed prior to being called.
Most importantly; calling the function twice results in fatal error.
PHP docu says
All functions and classes in PHP have the global scope - they can be called outside a function even if they were defined inside and vice versa.
So I just moved the recurse function outside array_replace_recursive function and it worked well. I also removed the if() condition and renamed it to array_replace_recursive_b4php53 for fear of future upgradings