PHP add key while a foreach without using '&' (reference)

Question

Suppose I am looping an array like this:

foreach($cursor as $obj) { ... }

and the values inside are as following:

$obj['name'] => "foo"
$obj['surname'] => "test"

is there a way to add another key and value inside it, directly from the foreach, without using '&'? Something like this:

foreach($cursor as $obj) { $obj['age'] = 24; }

but without using this:

foreach($cursor as &$obj) { $obj['age'] = 24; }

Thanks in advance.

foreach ($cursor as $key => $obj) {$cursor[$key]['age'] = 24;} — Alvar FinSoft Soome
– Alvar FinSoft Soome, Commented Nov 23, 2012 at 15:56
Why don't you want to loop "by reference"? IS there a valid reason? — Mark Baker
– Mark Baker, Commented Nov 23, 2012 at 16:05

Mihai Stancu · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-23 16:55:04Z

7

foreach($cursor as $k => $obj) { 
    $cursor[$k]['age'] = 24; //or whatever else you want to change it to
}

Mihai Stancu

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answered Nov 23, 2012 at 15:55

user1726343

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6 Comments

It adds an empty element into the array with age => 0, and the other elements do not gain age => 24.

@johnsmith Oops, I typed cursor instead of obj. Fixed it.

it still doesn't. The value for 'age' is not added into the array; but this time there no empty array :)

Using $cursor[$k] you get the value of $obj. $obj[$k] makes no sense.

@MihaiStancu You're right, it's late and I don't have my head screwed on straight. Thanks!

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