php-doc-en/reference/array/functions/array.xml

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  <refentry id="function.array">
   <refnamediv>
    <refname>array</refname>
    <refpurpose>
     Create an array
    </refpurpose>
   </refnamediv>
   <refsect1>
    <title>Description</title>
     <methodsynopsis>
      <type>array</type><methodname>array</methodname>
      <methodparam choice="opt"><type>mixed</type><parameter>...</parameter></methodparam>
     </methodsynopsis>
    <para>
     Returns an array of the parameters.  The parameters can be given
     an index with the <literal>=&gt;</literal> operator.  Read the section
     on the <link linkend="language.types.array">array type</link> for more
     information on what an array is.
    </para>
    <para>
     <note>
      <para>
       <function>array</function> is a language construct used to
       represent literal arrays, and not a regular function.
      </para>
     </note>
    </para>
    <para>
     Syntax "index =&gt; values", separated by commas, define index
     and values. index may be of type string or numeric. When index is
     omitted, an integer index is automatically generated, starting
     at 0. If index is an integer, next generated index will
     be the biggest integer index + 1. Note that when two identical
     index are defined, the last overwrite the first.
    </para>
    <para>
     Having a trailing comma after the last defined array entry, while 
     unusual, is a valid syntax.
    </para>
    <para>
     The following example demonstrates how to create a
     two-dimensional array, how to specify keys for associative
     arrays, and how to skip-and-continue numeric indices in normal
     arrays.
     <example>
      <title><function>array</function> example</title>
      <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php
$fruits = array (
    "fruits"  => array("a" => "orange", "b" => "banana", "c" => "apple"),
    "numbers" => array(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6),
    "holes"   => array("first", 5 => "second", "third")
);
?>
]]>
      </programlisting>
     </example>
    </para>
    <para>
     <example>
      <title>Automatic index with <function>array</function></title>
      <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php
$array = array(1, 1, 1, 1,  1, 8 => 1,  4 => 1, 19, 3 => 13);
print_r($array);
?>
]]>
      </programlisting>
      &example.outputs;
      <screen role="php">
<![CDATA[
Array
(
    [0] => 1
    [1] => 1
    [2] => 1
    [3] => 13
    [4] => 1
    [8] => 1
    [9] => 19
)
]]>
      </screen>
     </example>
    </para>
    <para>
     Note that index '3' is defined twice, and keep its final value of 13.
     Index 4 is defined after index 8, and next generated index (value 19)
     is 9, since biggest index was 8.
    </para>
    <para>
     This example creates a 1-based array.
     <example>
      <title>1-based index with <function>array</function></title>
      <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php
$firstquarter = array(1 => 'January', 'February', 'March');
print_r($firstquarter);
?>
]]>
      </programlisting>
      &example.outputs;
      <screen>
<![CDATA[
Array
(
    [1] => January
    [2] => February
    [3] => March
)
]]>
      </screen>
     </example>
    </para>
    <para>
     As in Perl, you can access a value from the array inside double quotes.
     However, with PHP you'll need to enclose your array between curly braces.
     <example>
      <title>Accessing an array inside double quotes</title>
      <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php

$foo = array('bar' => 'baz');
echo "Hello {$foo['bar']}!"; // Hello baz!

?>
]]>
      </programlisting>
     </example>
    </para>
    <para>
     See also <function>array_pad</function>,
     <function>list</function>,
     <function>count</function>,
     <link linkend="control-structures.foreach">foreach</link>, and 
     <function>range</function>.
    </para>
   </refsect1>
  </refentry>

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