Trying to wrap my head around this.

This section IS pretty confusing given that it has no effect on the ingredients list we are using! Had to look at it about five times! The $ingredients output is only changed by the ksort() function in the listShopping() method in render.php and the strstr() function in the getCombinedIngredients() method in recipecollection.php.

The first IF clause checks if we have already added the singular version of our ingredient to the $ingredients array; if we HAVEN'T then the ELSE IF clause check if we have already added the plural version of our ingredient (or our ingredient with an extra letter at the end) to the $ingredients array.

It won't cut a letter off as our 'haystack' is the $ingredients array we have just created in the getCombinedIngredients() method; not the original list of ingredients. However it is slightly flawed as it decides whichever version was added first is the right version.

Kaj, you're right it wouldn't work for plural forms that don't have an extra letter at the end but Alena says in the video "We'll assume it's an 's' " so I think she's just giving us examples of what can be done!

EDIT: Turns out this doesn't even work because in_array() can't find keys. As Maze pointed out in the other question on this video you should use array_key_exists()

I also found this particularly confusing for the exact same reason. An explanation of what happens as different strings come into this function would be helpful. For example:

onion onions

It has been over 3 weeks, bummer.

This was a mistake in the video with the proper function call. I forgot that the ingredient itself was stored in the key of the array. I will try to get the video updated. For now the code sample in the notes is updated.

NOTE in_array vs array_key_exists

in_array will check the "value" in an array while array_key_exists will check the "key" in an array.

Code Sample

This code will NOT handle all plural vs singular ingredients, but this will get you started. You could be adding "es" or changing "y" to "ies".

public function getCombinedIngredients()
{
    $ingredients = array();
    foreach ($this->recipes as $recipe) {
        foreach ($recipe->getIngredients() as $i) {
            $item = $i['item'];
            if (strpos($item, ",")) {
                $item = strstr($item, ",", true);
            }
            if (array_key_exists($item . "s", $ingredients)) {
                $item .= "s";
            } else if (array_key_exists(substr($item,0,-1),$ingredients)) {
                $item = substr($ingredient,0,-1);
            }
            $ingredients[$item][] = array($i["amount"],$i["measure"]);
        }
    }
    return $ingredients;
}

Glad to see I'm not the only one that got confused.

Could you send us the $ingredients array along with the $item variable.

It's confusing to me, as well. What happens to the words with identical singular and plural forms, like: fish, shrimp, salmon, etc. As pointed out by Darrell Conklin, won't the second half of the above code cut one letter off the end of such words?

Darrell Conklin I forked the workspace and there is still duplicates items.

IT RETURNS DUPLICATES

Egg
Eggs
Onion
Onions

INSTEAD OF ONLY

Eggs
Onions

TEACHERS CODE OUTPUT

[0] Belgian Waffles
[1] Ground Turkey Pepper Casserole
[2] Rabbit Catalan
[3] Spicy Omelette

SHOPPING LIST

Baking Powder
Bay Leaf
Bell Peppers
Blanched Almonds
Butter
Cheddar Cheese
Egg
Eggs
Flour
Garlic Cloves
Green Chili Pepper
Ground Turkey
Hazlenuts
Kielbasa Sausage
Milk
Olive Oil
Onion
Onions
Parsley
Pepper-Jack Cheese
Rabbit
Rabbit Stock
Raisins
Rice
Rosemary Spring
Saffron Threads
Salt
Salt & Pepper To Taste
Seasoned Flour
Sugar
Tomato Concasse
Tomato Sauce
Tomatoes
Vanilla
Xocolata A La Pedra