Getting error when echoing out an array key outside of foreach loop

Question

Why is it that when I setup an array like this:

$plans[] = array(
  'provider'  => 'Boost Mobile',
  'plan'   => 'Unlimited Gigs',
   'url'  => 'https://www.boostmobile.com/#!/shop/plans/monthly-phone-plans/',
  'price'      => 50,
  'duration' => 'month',
}

I get an arror if I echo out a key like this:

echo $plans['plan'];

//Notice: Undefined index: plan

BUT when I echo it out inside a foreach array it outputs the value?

Any help is appreciated

Are you checking the answers or just ask question and walk away... @Fabian Amran — RJParikh
– RJParikh, Commented Jul 19, 2017 at 9:25

RJParikh · Accepted Answer · 2017-07-19 09:18:03Z

1

You have define $plan with array so no need to take [] with $plans because it create multi dimentional array.

I have added both example with and without [].

Note

$plans[] = array(); // It creates multi dimensional array
$plans = array(); // It creates simple array

Code

<?php

$plans[] = array(
  'provider'  => 'Boost Mobile',
  'plan'   => 'Unlimited Gigs',
   'url'  => 'https://www.boostmobile.com/#!/shop/plans/monthly-phone-plans/',
  'price'      => 50,
  'duration' => 'month');

print_r($plans);
echo $plans[0]['plan']; echo "\n\n";

$plans2 = array(
  'provider'  => 'Boost Mobile',
  'plan'   => 'Unlimited Gigs',
   'url'  => 'https://www.boostmobile.com/#!/shop/plans/monthly-phone-plans/',
  'price'      => 50,
  'duration' => 'month');

print_r($plans2);
echo $plans2['plan'];

Output

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [provider] => Boost Mobile
            [plan] => Unlimited Gigs
            [url] => https://www.boostmobile.com/#!/shop/plans/monthly-phone-plans/
            [price] => 50
            [duration] => month
        )

)

Unlimited Gigs

Array
(
    [provider] => Boost Mobile
    [plan] => Unlimited Gigs
    [url] => https://www.boostmobile.com/#!/shop/plans/monthly-phone-plans/
    [price] => 50
    [duration] => month
)

Unlimited Gigs

Check Demo : Click Here

answered Jul 19, 2017 at 9:18

RJParikh

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2 Comments

Fabian Amran Over a year ago

I see where the confusion came from. I didn't know that using brackets would create a multidimensional array. Thank you for the explanation!

RJParikh Over a year ago

Welcome... Glad to help you. :)

Milan Chheda · Accepted Answer · 2017-07-19 09:17:46Z

1

$plans is a two-dimensional array. If you want to show plan, you need to use give the first dimension too, which is 0 in your case.

print_r($plans);
Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [provider] => Boost Mobile
            [plan] => Unlimited Gigs
            [url] => https://www.boostmobile.com/#!/shop/plans/monthly-phone-plans/
            [price] => 50
            [duration] => month
        )

)

And here is what echo would give you:

echo $plans[0]['plan'];
Unlimited Gigs

Click here for demo: https://3v4l.org/Ytk79

answered Jul 19, 2017 at 9:17

Milan Chheda

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Comments

Wael Assaf · Accepted Answer · 2017-07-19 09:26:53Z

1

You are actually just adding another element (which is, in this case, an array) to an existing array called $plans if you want to define an array $plans use this

$plans = array(
  'provider'  => 'Boost Mobile',
  'plan'   => 'Unlimited Gigs',
   'url'  => 'https://www.boostmobile.com/#!/shop/plans/monthly-phone-plans/',
  'price'      => 50,
  'duration' => 'month',
}

So now you can retrieve the value of the key 'plan' from your $plans array with this line

echo $plans['plan'];

answered Jul 19, 2017 at 9:26

Wael Assaf

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Comments

Gyandeep Sharma · Accepted Answer · 2017-07-19 09:14:04Z

0

You are adding an array at $plans[0].

So your value is as follows.

  $plans[0]['plan'];

You can view full array by this

echo "<pre>"; print_r($plans);

answered Jul 19, 2017 at 9:14

Gyandeep Sharma

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Comments

Arun Kumaresh · Accepted Answer · 2017-07-19 09:16:49Z

0

if it is $plans[] then you should do this

echo $plans[0]['plan'];

if it is $plans then it will be

echo $plans['plan'];

answered Jul 19, 2017 at 9:16

Arun Kumaresh

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