PHP array to jQuery options

Question

I'm creating a Wordpress Plugin which uses a jQuery script. I've created a PHP array which contains its options like:

$settings = array('setting1' => 'value1', 'setting2' => 'value2', 'setting3' => 10)

I was now going to use foreach to loop over the items and print them like this:

foreach($settings as $setting => $value) {

if (is_string($value)) { $value = "'" . $value . "'"; }
$output .= $setting . ':' . $value .',';

}

which should make me end up with:

(window).load(function() {
$('#widget').myWidget({
    setting1:'value1', 
    setting2:'value2', 
    setting3:10})

With the current setup I end up with the last entry having a ',' at the end (one too many) which means I get a Javascript error, so I need to remove it.

All with all, I have the feeling I'm doing something very dirty (including the is_string check) and I was wondering if there is a neat way to deal with this?

scurker · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-24 16:10:26Z

2

There is a json_encode function if you're using PHP >= 5.2

answered Mar 24, 2011 at 16:10

scurker

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svens · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-24 16:10:58Z

2

You should use json_encode() for this. It does all the dirty work for you.

(window).load(function() {
    $('#widget').myWidget(
        <?php echo json_encode($settings); ?>
    );
}

answered Mar 24, 2011 at 16:10

svens

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2 Comments

JanWillem Over a year ago

Excellent, I never imagined it would be so easy. Thanks a lot!

svens Over a year ago

Yeah, the JSON support is really nice.. And btw., it works in both directions (json_decode()) :).

Clement Herreman · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-24 16:09:07Z

1

Have you tried json_encode ?

Exemple from the docs:

<?php
$arr = array ('a'=>1,'b'=>2,'c'=>3,'d'=>4,'e'=>5);

echo json_encode($arr);
?>

Would output

{"a":1,"b":2,"c":3,"d":4,"e":5}

answered Mar 24, 2011 at 16:09

Clement Herreman

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Comments

Booker · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-24 16:11:20Z

1

Here's a little thing I like to use when dealing with situations like this. I know it doesn't really answer your question, but it is an elegant way of solving the comma problem.

$comma = '';
foreach($settings as $setting => $value) {
  if (is_string($value)) { 
    $value = "'" . $value . "'";
    $output .= $comma . $setting . ':' . $value;
    $comma = ',';
  }
}

So on the first run $comma is blank, but after that it gets put between every new entry.

answered Mar 24, 2011 at 16:11

Booker

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3 Comments

Clement Herreman Over a year ago

No -1 because this solution works, but definitely not a good one.

Booker Over a year ago

Could you enlighten me as to why this is not a good solution. Perhaps my code is suffering for it...

Clement Herreman Over a year ago

Because an existing function, json_encode, already do the work. Odds are that this function will be maintained longer that your personnal code and by smarter people that you and me.

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