Convert a PHP object to an associative array

Question

I\'m integrating an API to my website which works with data stored in objects while my code is written using arrays.

I\'d like a quick-and-dirty function to convert

Answer 1

First of all, if you need an array from an object you probably should constitute the data as an array first. Think about it.

Don't use a foreach statement or JSON transformations. If you're planning this, again you're working with a data structure, not with an object.

If you really need it use an object-oriented approach to have a clean and maintainable code. For example:

Object as array

class PersonArray implements \ArrayAccess, \IteratorAggregate
{
    public function __construct(Person $person) {
        $this->person = $person;
    }
    // ...
 }

If you need all properties, use a transfer object:

class PersonTransferObject
{
    private $person;

    public function __construct(Person $person) {
        $this->person = $person;
    }

    public function toArray() {
        return [
            // 'name' => $this->person->getName();
        ];
    }

 }