Is there a possible way to use multidimensional arrays to replace words in a string using str_replace() and the array() function?

Question

Note: I have seen this question here, but my array is completely different.

Hello everyone. I have been trying to make a censoring program for my website. What I ended up with was:

$wordsList = [
    array("frog","sock"),
    array("Nock","crock"),
];

$message = str_replace($wordsList[0], $wordsList[1], "frog frog Nock Nock");
echo $message;

What I am trying to do is replace "frog" with "sock" using multidimentional arrays without typing all of the words out in str_replace();

Expected Output: "sock sock crocs crocs"

However, when I execute it, for some unknown reason it doesn't actually replace the words, without any errors. I think it's a rookie mistake that I made, but I have searched and have not found any documentation on using a system like this. Please help!

Answer 1

You need to change the structure of your wordsList array.

There are two structures that will make it easy:

As key/value pairs

This would be my recommendation since it's super clear what the strings and their replacements are.

// Store them as key/value pairs with the search and replacement strings
$wordsList = [
    'frog' => 'sock',
    'Nock' => 'crock',
];

$message = str_replace(
    array_keys($wordsList), // Get all keys as the search array
    $wordsList,             // The replacements
    "frog frog Nock Nock"
);

Demo: https://3v4l.org/WsUdn

As a multidimensional array

This one requires you to add the search/replacement values in the same order, which can be hard to read when you have a few different strings.

$wordsList = [
    ['frog', 'Nock'],  // All search strings
    ['sock', 'crock'], // All replacements
];

$message = str_replace(
    $wordsList[0], // All search strings
    $wordsList[1], // The replacements strings
    "frog frog Nock Nock"
);

Demo: https://3v4l.org/RQjC6

If you can't change the original array, then create a new array with the correct structure since that won't work "as is".