Copy An Array In PHP

In PHP, arrays play a significant role in storing multiple values in a single variable. This article will guide you on how to make a copy of an array in PHP, which is a frequently used operation in programming.

Code snippet for Copying an Array in PHP

Here is a simple PHP code snippet that demonstrates how to copy an array:

<?php
// Sample array
$originalArray = array("Apple", "Banana", "Cherry");

// Copying array
$copiedArray = $originalArray;

// Printing original and copied array
print_r($originalArray);
print_r($copiedArray);
?>

Code Explanation for Copying an Array in PHP

Let’s break down the code above for a better understanding of how copying an array in PHP works:

1. We start by creating a sample array named $originalArray. This array contains 3 elements: "Apple", "Banana", and "Cherry".

$originalArray = array("Apple", "Banana", "Cherry");

2. To copy the array, we simply assign the $originalArray to the $copiedArray. This creates a new array that is an exact copy of the $originalArray. Any changes made to the original array will not affect the copied array and vice versa.

$copiedArray = $originalArray;

3. Finally, we use the print_r function to print the original and copied arrays to the screen. This is just to verify that both were identical at the time of copying.

print_r($originalArray);
print_r($copiedArray);

If you run this code, you will see that both the original and the copied arrays are the same, which means the array copying operation was successful. With this simple operation, you are now ready to manipulate data with more flexibility in PHP. Different applications may require you to copy arrays for a variety of reasons. In any case, knowing how to efficiently copy an array will make your coding tasks easier and more effective.