Check if object with property = value exists in array of objects

Question

I think I could do this with a foreach loop like this:

 foreach ($haystack as $item)
       if (isset($item->$needle_field) && $item->$needle_field == $needle)
            return true;
 } 

but i was wandering if it could be done without a loop?

something like:

  if(in_array($item->$needle_field == $needle,$haystack)
            return true;

Answer 1

It's possible, but it's not any better:

<?php
function make_subject($count, $success) {
    $ret = array();
    for ($i = 0; $i < $count; $i++) {
        $object = new stdClass();
        $object->foo = $success ? $i : null;
        $ret[] = $object;
    }
    return $ret;
}

// Change true to false for failed test.
$subject = make_subject(10, true);

if (sizeof(array_filter($subject, function($value) {
    return $value->foo === 3;
}))) {
    echo 'Value 3 was found!';
} else {
    echo 'Value 3 was not found.';
}

Outputs Value 3 was found!.

I advise you remain with the for loop: it's legible, unlike any tricks to save a line that you might find.