possible limitation of implode function in PHP

Question

I have the following code that is not returning as I expected. I was hoping the final result would be a string:

$organizers = array_unique($organizers);     // this returns correctly
$organizers = implode(', ', $organizers);    // this returns nothing
var_dump($organizers);                        // no data appears here
exit;

The array_unique() function is returning data correctly and I can see the array it returns. To start, the $organizers array is a simple 1-D array of strings that all have small lengths under 20 chars. I think the issue might be that $organizers is more than 10,000 indices long. Are there limitations on the length of an array that can be imploded? Are there work-arounds for that? I cannot find anything in the manual, but I have tested this code thoroughly and I believe the error must be on implode().

Put some debugging output after your implode(). Are you simply running out of memory? Do you have error logging on? — Brad
– Brad, Commented Dec 12, 2012 at 18:10
@jakenoble, PHP treats strings like binary data. "Odd characters" have no bearing on PHP string functions. — Brad
– Brad, Commented Dec 12, 2012 at 18:10
I had no issues running this: ideone.com/CYNcAy (it's an array with 15000 elements, each of them a string with exactly 23 characters) — NullUserException
– NullUserException, Commented Dec 12, 2012 at 18:13
I took NullUserException's test to a bigger extreme: 100,000 elements with each element being 32 characters, and there was no limitation. — nickb
– nickb, Commented Dec 12, 2012 at 18:15
@nick I love how $entry = 'some small string under 20 chars' when it's 32 characters long :) — NullUserException
– NullUserException, Commented Dec 12, 2012 at 18:17

MAXIM · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-12 19:27:03Z

1

I dont' know if there is a limitation, but what comes to my mind is taht you are also transforming an array into a string. This shouldn't be the problem in PHP, but try calling it a different variable for the result of implode?

$organizers        = array_unique($organizers);     // this returns correctly
$organizers_string = implode(', ', $organizers);    // this returns nothing

// This gives it a different space

answered Dec 12, 2012 at 19:27

MAXIM

1,2311 gold badge9 silver badges16 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

rnirnber · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-12 19:26:38Z

1

Edit: And if for some reason implode() is still problematic.

$organizers = array_unique($organizers);
$neworganizers = "";
for($i = 0; $i < sizeof($organizers); $i++)
{
    $neworganizers .= $organizers[$i];
    if($i != sizeof($organizers) - 1)
    {
        $neworganizers .= ", ";
    }
}

//$neworganizers is now the equivalent of what .implode() should return when called on $organizers

$organizers = array();
$organizers[0] = "value1";
$organizers[1] = "value2";
$organizers[2] = "value3";
$organizers[3] = "value3";
$organizers = array_unique($organizers);     // strips out last index
$organizers = implode(', ', $organizers);    // returns string of "value1, value2, value3"
echo $organizers;

This seemed to work on writecodeline.com/php/

I've also experienced issues with older php builds when I've tried to explode/implode by a string with special characters in it and they were encapsulated by single quotes. I know it sounds crazy, but the double quotes might be necessary on some servers.

Reference: personal experience doing work on older production servers.

edited Dec 12, 2012 at 19:26

answered Dec 12, 2012 at 18:52

rnirnber

6037 silver badges17 bronze badges

1 Comment

rnirnber Over a year ago

Let us know if it works out. Maybe if you're still having problems with implode, you could see the edit I'm about to make above.

rnirnber · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-12 18:32:15Z

0

I'd hate to think I'm stating the obvious, but doesn't implode only take a string as an argument? Maybe it should be something more like this...

$organizers = array_unique($organizers);

//I'm guessing what you wanted was an array of arrays?
$neworganizers = array();
for($i = 0; $i < sizeof($organizers); $i++)
{
    $neworganizers[$i] = implode(", ", $organizers);
}
print_r($neworganizers);

answered Dec 12, 2012 at 18:32

rnirnber

6037 silver badges17 bronze badges

1 Comment

rnirnber Over a year ago

Sorry! It's early and I got confused/mixed up with explode.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

possible limitation of implode function in PHP

3 Answers 3

Comments

1 Comment

1 Comment

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

Comments

1 Comment

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related