php search array key and get value

Question

I was wondering what is the best way to search keys in an array and return it\'s value. Something like array_search but for keys. Would a loop be the best way?

Arra

Answer 1

Here is an example straight from PHP.net

$a = array(
    "one" => 1,
    "two" => 2,
    "three" => 3,
    "seventeen" => 17
);

foreach ($a as $k => $v) {
    echo "\$a[$k] => $v.\n";
}

in the foreach you can do a comparison of each key to something that you are looking for

Answer 2

array_search('20120504', array_keys($your_array));

Answer 3

The key is already the ... ehm ... key

echo $array[20120504];

If you are unsure, if the key exists, test for it

$key = 20120504;
$result = isset($array[$key]) ? $array[$key] : null;

Minor addition:

$result = @$array[$key] ?: null;

One may argue, that @ is bad, but keep it serious: This is more readable and straight forward, isn't?

Update: With PHP7 my previous example is possible without the error-silencer

$result = $array[$key] ?? null;

Answer 4

<?php

// Checks if key exists (doesn't care about it's value).
// @link http://php.net/manual/en/function.array-key-exists.php
if (array_key_exists(20120504, $search_array)) {
  echo $search_array[20120504];
}

// Checks against NULL
// @link http://php.net/manual/en/function.isset.php
if (isset($search_array[20120504])) {
  echo $search_array[20120504];
}

// No warning or error if key doesn't exist plus checks for emptiness.
// @link http://php.net/manual/en/function.empty.php
if (!empty($search_array[20120504])) {
  echo $search_array[20120504];
}

?>