How to Check If an Array Value Exists?

How to Check If an Array Value Exists?

How can I check if $something['say'] has the value of 'bla' or 'omg'?

$something = array('say' => 'bla', 'say' => 'omg');
1

12 Answers

You could use the PHP in_array function

if( in_array( "bla" ,$yourarray ) )
{
    echo "has bla";
}
1

Using the instruction if?

if(isset($something['say']) && $something['say'] === 'bla') {
    // do something
}

By the way, you are assigning a value with the key say twice, hence your array will result in an array with only one value.

Using: in_array()

$search_array = array('user_from','lucky_draw_id','prize_id');

if (in_array('prize_id', $search_array)) {
    echo "The 'prize_id' element is in the array";
}

Here is output: The 'prize_id' element is in the array


Using: array_key_exists()

$search_array = array('user_from','lucky_draw_id','prize_id');

if (array_key_exists('prize_id', $search_array)) {
    echo "The 'prize_id' element is in the array";
}

No output


In conclusion, array_key_exists() does not work with a simple array. Its only to find whether an array key exist or not. Use in_array() instead.

Here is more example:

<?php
/**++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 * 1. example with assoc array using in_array
 *
 * IMPORTANT NOTE: in_array is case-sensitive
 * in_array — Checks if a value exists in an array
 *
 * DOES NOT WORK FOR MULTI-DIMENSIONAL ARRAY
 *++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 */
$something = array('a' => 'bla', 'b' => 'omg');
if (in_array('omg', $something)) {
    echo "|1| The 'omg' value found in the assoc array ||";
}

/**++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 * 2. example with index array using in_array
 *
 * IMPORTANT NOTE: in_array is case-sensitive
 * in_array — Checks if a value exists in an array
 *
 * DOES NOT WORK FOR MULTI-DIMENSIONAL ARRAY
 *++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 */
$something = array('bla', 'omg');
if (in_array('omg', $something)) {
    echo "|2| The 'omg' value found in the index array ||";
}

/**++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 * 3. trying with array_search
 *
 * array_search — Searches the array for a given value 
 * and returns the corresponding key if successful
 *
 * DOES NOT WORK FOR MULTI-DIMENSIONAL ARRAY
 *++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 */
$something = array('a' => 'bla', 'b' => 'omg');
if (array_search('bla', $something)) {
    echo "|3| The 'bla' value found in the assoc array ||";
}

/**++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 * 4. trying with isset (fastest ever)
 *
 * isset — Determine if a variable is set and 
 * is not NULL
 *++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 */
$something = array('a' => 'bla', 'b' => 'omg');
if($something['a']=='bla'){
    echo "|4| Yeah!! 'bla' found in array ||";
}

/**
 * OUTPUT:
 * |1| The 'omg' element value found in the assoc array ||
 * |2| The 'omg' element value found in the index array ||
 * |3| The 'bla' element value found in the assoc array ||
 * |4| Yeah!! 'bla' found in array ||
 */
?>

Here is PHP DEMO

1

You can use:

1

in_array() is fine if you're only checking but if you need to check that a value exists and return the associated key, array_search is a better option.

$data = [
    'hello',
    'world'
];

$key = array_search('world', $data);

if ($key) {
    echo 'Key is ' . $key;
} else {
    echo 'Key not found';
}

This will print "Key is 1"

0

To check if the index is defined: isset($something['say'])

2

You can test whether an array has a certain element at all or not with isset() or sometimes even better array_key_exists() (the documentation explains the differences). If you can't be sure if the array has an element with the index 'say' you should test that first or you might get 'warning: undefined index....' messages.

As for the test whether the element's value is equal to a string you can use == or (again sometimes better) the identity operator === which doesn't allow type juggling.

if( isset($something['say']) && 'bla'===$something['say'] ) {
  // ...
}
1

Just use the PHP function array_key_exists()

<?php
$search_array = array('first' => 1, 'second' => 4);
if (array_key_exists('first', $search_array)) {
    echo "The 'first' element is in the array";
}
?>
<?php
if (in_array('your_variable', $Your_array)) {
    $redImg = 'true code here';
} else {
    $redImg = 'false code here';
} 
?>
1

Well, first off an associative array can only have a key defined once, so this array would never exist. Otherwise, just use in_array() to determine if that specific array element is in an array of possible solutions.

bool in_array ( mixed $needle , array $haystack [, bool $strict = FALSE ] )

Another use of in_array in_array() with an array as needle

<?php
$a = array(array('p', 'h'), array('p', 'r'), 'o');

if (in_array(array('p', 'h'), $a)) {
    echo "'ph' was found\n";
}

if (in_array(array('f', 'i'), $a)) {
    echo "'fi' was found\n";
}

if (in_array('o', $a)) {
    echo "'o' was found\n";
}
?>

Assuming you are using a simple array

. i.e.

$MyArray = array("red","blue","green");

You can use this function

function val_in_arr($val,$arr){
  foreach($arr as $arr_val){
    if($arr_val == $val){
      return true;
    }
  }
  return false;
}

Usage:

val_in_arr("red",$MyArray); //returns true
val_in_arr("brown",$MyArray); //returns false

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David Miller
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David Miller

David Miller brings 15 years of experience in global economics, personal finance strategy, and market dynamics. He specializes in turning complex economic trends into actionable insights for everyday readers.