Convert string name into variable in php?

Question

I'm trying to create a function in php that will convert 3 strings into an element in a multidimensional array. So the array at the moment is this:

`$testcart=[$testcamera = [
'name' => 'Sony camera',
'price' => 170
   ]
    ];

$phone = [
    'name' => 'Lg g3',
    'price' => 400

];'   

And I'm trying to add this element to it through a form:

    `$smartphone = [
    'name' => 'HTC One',
    'price' => 300

];`

So the user inputs 'smartphone,'htc one', and 300. I've created this function:

function newcreate_item($newitemvariable,$newitemname,$newitemprice) {
    $newitem = "$" . $newitemvariable;
    $newitem = [
    'name' =>$newitemname,
    'price' =>$newitemprice];
     return $newitem; 
}

But I cannot seem to convert the string ($newitemvariable) into the variable name. Any help would be much appreciated!

Answer 1

Except it is quite risky and not professional to do so the right function to use is eval():

php -a
Interactive mode enabled

php > $str = '$testcart=[
php ' [
php ' \'name\' => \'Sony camera\',
php ' \'price\' => 170
php ' ],
php ' [
php '     \'name\' => \'Lg g3\',
php '     \'price\' => 400
php ' 
php ' ]];';
php > eval($str);
php > var_dump($testcart);
array(2) {
  [0]=>
  array(2) {
    ["name"]=>
    string(11) "Sony camera"
    ["price"]=>
    int(170)
  }
  [1]=>
  array(2) {
    ["name"]=>
    string(5) "Lg g3"
    ["price"]=>
    int(400)
  }
}
php >