PHP - get_file_contents not working as an array?

Question

I'm using a $file_contents = file_get_contents($file_name) then using $file_contents = array_splice($file_contents, 30, 7, 'changedText') to update something in the file code. However, this keeps resulting in:

Warning: array_splice(): The first argument should be an array

From what I understand the string returned by file_get_contents() should be able to be acted on like any other array. Any reason I'm having trouble with this? Thank you much!

Community · Accepted Answer · 2023-11-17 20:42:18Z

6

From the manual:

file_get_contents — Reads entire file into a string

So you don't have an array. You have a string.

edited Nov 17, 2023 at 20:42

CommunityBot

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answered Mar 28, 2013 at 1:38

John Conde

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3 Comments

Karol Over a year ago

file() function reads file into an array of lines. I think question is about accessing string characters via squared brackets, which looks like an array, but in fact it's not - it's just a PHP helpful syntax.

Karol Over a year ago

Yeah - that's why I added answer as well. But you were faster :)

golmschenk Over a year ago

Ah, then my mistake was thinking a string was an array. For some reason that was my understanding.

Karol · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-28 01:48:52Z

1

Read documentation.

String is not an array even when it supports using square brackets:

$str[0]

Use str_split function for behavior you want. It will convert your string into real array, and then you can use it as an argument in array_splice function. E.g:

echo('<pre>');
var_dump(array_slice(str_split("Stack Overflow"), 6));
echo('</pre>');
die();

I think it helps.

edited Mar 28, 2013 at 1:48

answered Mar 28, 2013 at 1:42

Karol

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2 Comments

golmschenk Over a year ago

Thanks, my confusion was in assuming a string was a form of array in PHP.

Karol Over a year ago

That's why str_split can help you in converting string to an array;)

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