Get the difference between one sub-Array or multiple sub-Arrays in a multidimensional Array

Question

I have following multidimensional Array and I want to get the difference, if there is just one sub Array or multiple in that array.

For Example:

• In Array [1] there is just one sub Array [example]
• In Array [2] there are two sub Arrays [example]

[content] => Array
        (
            [...]
            [1] => Array
                (
                    [example] => Array
                        (
                            [value] => GET THIS
                            [attr] => Array
                                (
                                  [...]
                                )
                        )
                )
            [2] => Array
                (
                    [example] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => Array
                                (
                                    [value] => GET THIS
                                    [attr] => Array
                                        (
                                           [...]
                                        )
                                )
                            [1] => Array
                                (
                                    [value] => GET THIS
                                    [attr] => Array
                                        (
                                           [...]
                                        )
                                )
                        )
                )

Now to get the [value] from the first Array I would try:

foreach ($content as $example) {
    echo($content['example']['value']);
}

And to get each [value] from the second Array I would try:

foreach ($content as $example) {
    foreach ($example as $values) {
        echo($value['value']);
    }
}

So far so good but how do I decide which function to run? Am I missing something? Is there an if-statement which can help me there?

Something like:

if(multiple sub-arrays){
    // do first code example
} else {
    // do second code example
}

I simply want a method to get all values called [value] out of the array.

Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

The most obvious solution is to change function which generates your content array so as it always generates sub arrays in a format like:

[content] => Array
        (
            [...]
            [1] => Array
                (
                    [example] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => Array
                                (
                                    [value] => GET THIS
                                    [attr] => Array
                                        (
                                            [...]
                                        )
                                )
                        )
                )
            [2] => Array
                (
                    [example] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => Array
                                (
                                    [value] => GET THIS
                                    [attr] => Array
                                        (
                                           [...]
                                        )
                                )
                            [1] => Array
                                (
                                    [value] => GET THIS
                                    [attr] => Array
                                        (
                                           [...]
                                        )
                                )
                        )
                )

But if you don't have such option - then use a simple check:

foreach ($content as $item) {
    // here check if your `$item` has an `value` subkey under `example` key
    if (array_key_exists('value', $item['example'])) {
         echo($item['example']['value']);
    } else {
         foreach ($item['example'] as $values) {
             echo ($values['value']);
         }
    }
}