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PHP PHP Arrays and Control Structures PHP Arrays Multidimensional Arrays

Posted by Juras Rabačauskas
Juras Rabačauskas
7,425 Points

Multi-dimensional arrays exercise

In the code below, we have a simple array of contact names. We want to use the $contacts array to fill in the hardcoded list of names an email addresses. To hold the email as well as the name for each contact, we need a multidimensional array, meaning each person in the contact list will have their own array. The first step is to make each person their own single item ASSOCIATIVE array, using 'name' as the key for these internal arrays.

As I understand, I need to create an array of arrays with key values of the names, but it doesn't work.

My code:

<?php //edit this array $contacts = array('Alena Holligan', 'Dave McFarland', 'Treasure Porth', 'Andrew Chalkley'); $contacts['Alena Holligan'] = array(); $contacts['Dave McFarland'] = array(); $contacts['Treasure Porth'] = array(); $contacts['Andrew Chalkley'] = array();

echo "<ul>\n"; //$contacts[0] will return 'Alena Holligan' in our simple array of names. echo "<li>Alena Holligan : alena.holligan@teamtreehouse.com</li>\n"; echo "<li>Dave McFarland : dave.mcfarland@teamtreehouse.com</li>\n"; echo "<li>Treasure Porth : treasure.porth@teamtreehouse.com</li>\n"; echo "<li>Andrew Chalkley : andrew.chalkley@teamtreehouse.com</li>\n"; echo "</ul>\n";

index.php 
In the code below, we have a simple array of contact names. We want to use the $contacts array to fill in the hardcoded list of names an email addresses. To hold the email as well as the name for each contact, we need a multidimensional array, meaning each person in the contact list will have their own array. The first step is to make each person their own single item ASSOCIATIVE array, using 'name' as the key for these internal arrays.

My code: 

<?php
//edit this array
$contacts = array('Alena Holligan', 'Dave McFarland', 'Treasure Porth', 'Andrew Chalkley');
$contacts['Alena Holligan'] = array();
$contacts['Dave McFarland'] = array();
$contacts['Treasure Porth'] = array();
$contacts['Andrew Chalkley'] = array();

echo "<ul>\n";
//$contacts[0] will return 'Alena Holligan' in our simple array of names.
echo "<li>Alena Holligan : alena.holligan@teamtreehouse.com</li>\n";
echo "<li>Dave McFarland : dave.mcfarland@teamtreehouse.com</li>\n";
echo "<li>Treasure Porth : treasure.porth@teamtreehouse.com</li>\n";
echo "<li>Andrew Chalkley : andrew.chalkley@teamtreehouse.com</li>\n";
echo "</ul>\n";

1 Answer

Angela Visnesky
Angela Visnesky
20,927 Points
Angela Visnesky
Angela Visnesky
20,927 Points

Hi Juras! You are making separate arrays for the individuals. They need to be in one array, like this:

$contacts = array(
  ['name' => 'Alena Holligan'],
  ['name' => 'Dave McFarland'],
  ['name' => 'Treasure Porth'],
  ['name' => 'Andrew Chalkley'],
 );

I hope this gets you jumpstarted in the right direction!