FOR output does not start with 0 element of array in php

Question

I have problem with 0th array element as output of FOR cycles. I want server to print letters A B C D E; and if something is different as element in array, than it should be printed something else. So I made conditions and switch statement for that.

But 0th element of array is always printed out as different element. I do not know what I am doing wrong. Can you please help me? Can you explain me why is this happening?

<?php
    $array = array(0,1,2,3,4,"something");
    for($i=0;$i<count($array);$i++){
        echo '<br>'.$i;
        if ($array[$i] == 'something') {
            echo ' something ';
        } else {
            switch ($array[$i])
                {   case "0":
                        echo ' A';
                        break;
                    case "1":
                        echo ' B';
                        break;
                    case "2":
                        echo ' C';
                        break;
                    case "3":
                        echo ' D';
                        break;
                    case "4":
                        echo ' E';
                        break;
                    default:;
                };
            };
        };
    ?>

My output is this:

0 something 
1 B
2 C
3 D
4 E
5 something

But I am expecting this:

0 A 
1 B
2 C
3 D
4 E
5 something

Most strings are equal to 0 in PHP, use === to stop this. You can test this yourself with var_dump(0 == "hello"); — MDEV
– MDEV, Commented Oct 13, 2013 at 12:52

zamnuts · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-13 13:10:38Z

6

When comparing integer 0 to string "something" the string is cast as integer. See:

var_dump((int) 0); // yields int 0
var_dump((int) 'something'); // yields int 0

See PHP bug request 39579. Note, this is NOT a bug, and works as "expected."

The proper comparison should use strict equality (3 equal signs which test both the value and the type):

if ($array[$i] === 'something') {
    echo ' something ';
}

Alternatively, you may cast the "known/assumed" type during the comparison temporarily and still maintain loose equality:

if ((string) $array[$i] == 'something') {
    echo ' something ';
}

// OR with strval

if (strval($array[$i]) == 'something') {
    echo ' something ';
}

edited Oct 13, 2013 at 13:10

answered Oct 13, 2013 at 12:54

zamnuts

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2 Comments

Andrej Buday Over a year ago

Thank you deeper explanation. I will check it out. === works perfectly

Andrej Buday Over a year ago

accepted but cannot upvote, sorry I do not have reputation for this action.

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