For cleared or unset php arrays, are elements garbage collected?

Question

if I unset an array, would its elements be garbage collected or freed up assuming they are not referenced in anywhere else? what if I simply do $array =new array();

Answer 1

Following simple code answers the question:

        $a = array();
        $a[0] = 'a1';
        $a[1] = 'b2';

        foreach($a as $v)
            echo $v . '
';
        //writes content of array

        echo count($a) . '
';
        //writes 2

        $a = array(); //CLEAR ARRAY

        foreach($a as $v)
            echo $v . '
';
        //writes nothing

        echo count($a) . '
';
        //writes 0