extract Import variables into the current symbol table from an array intextract arrayvar_array intextract_type stringprefix This function is used to import variables from an array into the current symbol table. It takes an associative array var_array and treats keys as variable names and values as variable values. For each key/value pair it will create a variable in the current symbol table, subject to extract_type and prefix parameters. Beginning with version 4.0.5, this function returns the number of variables extracted. EXTR_IF_EXISTS and EXTR_PREFIX_IF_EXISTS was introduced in version 4.2.0. EXTR_REFS was introduced in version 4.3.0. extract checks each key to see whether it has a valid variable name. It also checks for collisions with existing variables in the symbol table. The way invalid/numeric keys and collisions are treated is determined by the extract_type. It can be one of the following values: EXTR_OVERWRITE If there is a collision, overwrite the existing variable. EXTR_SKIP If there is a collision, don't overwrite the existing variable. EXTR_PREFIX_SAME If there is a collision, prefix the variable name with prefix. EXTR_PREFIX_ALL Prefix all variable names with prefix. Beginning with PHP 4.0.5, this includes numeric variables as well. EXTR_PREFIX_INVALID Only prefix invalid/numeric variable names with prefix. This flag was added in PHP 4.0.5. EXTR_IF_EXISTS Only overwrite the variable if it already exists in the current symbol table, otherwise do nothing. This is useful for defining a list of valid variables and then extracting only those variables you have defined out of $_REQUEST, for example. This flag was added in PHP 4.2.0. EXTR_PREFIX_IF_EXISTS Only create prefixed variable names if the non-prefixed version of the same variable exists in the current symbol table. This flag was added in PHP 4.2.0. EXTR_REFS Extracts variables as references. This effectively means that the values of the imported variables are still referencing the values of the var_array parameter. You can use this flag on its own or combine it with any other flag by OR'ing the extract_type. This flag was added in PHP 4.3.0. If extract_type is not specified, it is assumed to be EXTR_OVERWRITE. Note that prefix is only required if extract_type is EXTR_PREFIX_SAME, EXTR_PREFIX_ALL, EXTR_PREFIX_INVALID or EXTR_PREFIX_IF_EXISTS. If the prefixed result is not a valid variable name, it is not imported into the symbol table. extract returns the number of variables successfully imported into the symbol table. A possible use for extract is to import into the symbol table variables contained in an associative array returned by wddx_deserialize. "blue", "size" => "medium", "shape" => "sphere"); extract ($var_array, EXTR_PREFIX_SAME, "wddx"); print "$color, $size, $shape, $wddx_size\n"; ?> ]]> The above example will produce: The $size wasn't overwritten, because we specified EXTR_PREFIX_SAME, which resulted in $wddx_size being created. If EXTR_SKIP was specified, then $wddx_size wouldn't even have been created. EXTR_OVERWRITE would have caused $size to have value "medium", and EXTR_PREFIX_ALL would result in new variables being named $wddx_color, $wddx_size, and $wddx_shape. You must use an associative array, a numerically indexed array will not produce results unless you use EXTR_PREFIX_ALL or EXTR_PREFIX_INVALID. See also compact.