Why would the first element in this array be empty?

Question

I'm wondering why the first element in this array would be empty?

$first_names[] = array();
foreach ($rows as $row) { 
  $first_names[] = $row['first_name'];
}

The result of var_dump($first_names); is:

array(15) { [0]=> array(0) { } [1]=> string(5) "Johny" [2]=> string(5) "Jacob" ...}

Technically, it's not empty; rather, it holds an empty array. — Jeffrey Blake
– Jeffrey Blake, Commented Apr 17, 2013 at 18:35

Jason · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-17 18:33:42Z

6

$first_names[] = array();

should be

$first_names = array();

answered Apr 17, 2013 at 18:33

Jason

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user229044 · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-17 18:34:11Z

3

This line

$first_names[] = array();

is explicitly pushing an empty array onto the front of $first_names. That's what $array[]=... does; it's a synonym for array_push.

I think your intention was to initialize the variable to an empty array. For this you'd simply use the assignment operator:

$first_names = array();

answered Apr 17, 2013 at 18:34

user229044♦

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1 Comment

Chaya Cooper Over a year ago

You're absolutely right :-D Quick question - I noticed that I need to include it in the foreach loop when I create a subarray - why is that? $students[] = array($row['first_name'], $row['last_name']);

jruizaranguren · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-29 07:52:43Z

2

Initialize array as

$first_names = array();

edited Oct 29, 2015 at 7:52

jruizaranguren

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answered Apr 17, 2013 at 18:34

Tamil Selvan C

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Comments

Tamil Selvan C · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-26 04:28:57Z

2

It is empty because you are adding an array element to the 0th index in the $first_names variable.

You should try

$first_names = array();

edited Mar 26, 2016 at 4:28

Tamil Selvan C

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answered Apr 17, 2013 at 18:37

Surojit

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