I have the following structure:
$positions = array();
$salaries = array();
$registers = ['Position' => $positions, 'Salary' => $salaries];
Since I created the positions and salaries associative arrays at the beginning using the array() syntax I assumed that later in the code I can just write:
$salaries += [$name => $salary];
But found out that at the end when tried to get some data using the registers array:
$registers['Position'] or $registers['Salary'] after I've done some filtering everything was empty and I had to reference it via registers to actually put data in:
$registers['Salary'] += [$name => $salary];
or create the registers array later in the code near the end of the script when the other arrays - positions and salaries were already full with the needed data.
My question is - since I put positions and salaries as values inside registers array does that mean I lose the ability to reference them as separate / independent arrays. I created them as described with that purpose in mind and registers array is for filtering purposes and I made it at the beginning so I have all that code at the very top of the script.
Will be very grateful for any info on the matter.
Just posting CBroe's comment as an answer for better visibility.
$registers = ['Position' => $positions, 'Salary' => $salaries]; simply creates copies of the current content of those arrays at this point. What you want, would require that the elements be added as references instead of copies: $registers = ['Position' => &$positions, 'Salary' => &$salaries]; But there are some cave-ats when working with references, so make sure you understand what is explained under php.net/manual/en/language.references.php properly.