PHP: How to remove specific element from an array?

Question

How do I remove an element from an array when I know the element's value? for example:

I have an array:

$array = array('apple', 'orange', 'strawberry', 'blueberry', 'kiwi');

the user enters strawberry

strawberry is removed from $array .

To fully explain:

I have a database that stores a list of items separated by a comma. The code pulls in the list based on a user choice where that choice is located. So, if they choose strawberry they code pulls in every entry were strawberry is located then converts that to an array using split(). I want to them remove the user chosen items, for this example strawberry, from the array.

Answer 1

Use array_search to get the key and remove it with unset if found:

if (($key = array_search('strawberry', $array)) !== false) {
    unset($array[$key]);
}

array_search returns false ( null until PHP 4.2.0) if no item has been found.

And if there can be multiple items with the same value, you can use array_keys to get the keys to all items:

foreach (array_keys($array, 'strawberry') as $key) {
    unset($array[$key]);
}

Answer 2

Use array_diff() for 1 line solution:

$array = array('apple', 'orange', 'strawberry', 'blueberry', 'kiwi', 'strawberry'); //throw in another 'strawberry' to demonstrate that it removes multiple instances of the string
$array_without_strawberries = array_diff($array, array('strawberry'));
print_r($array_without_strawberries);

...No need for extra functions or foreach loop.

Answer 3

if (in_array('strawberry', $array)) 
{
    unset($array[array_search('strawberry',$array)]);
}

Answer 4

If you are using a plain array here (which seems like the case), you should be using this code instead:

if (($key = array_search('strawberry', $array)) !== false) {
    array_splice($array, $key, 1);
}

unset($array[$key]) only removes the element but does not reorder the plain array.

Supposingly we have an array and use array_splice:

$array = array('apple', 'orange', 'strawberry', 'blueberry', 'kiwi');
array_splice($array, 2, 1);
json_encode($array); 
// yields the array ['apple', 'orange', 'blueberry', 'kiwi']

Compared to unset:

$array = array('apple', 'orange', 'strawberry', 'blueberry', 'kiwi');
unset($array[2]);
json_encode($array);
// yields an object {"0": "apple", "1": "orange", "3": "blueberry", "4": "kiwi"}

Notice how unset($array[$key]) does not reorder the array.

Answer 5

You can use array filter to remove the items by a specific condition on $v :

$arr = array_filter($arr, function($v){
    return $v != 'some_value';
});

Answer 6

只是你可以做单行。它将从数组中删除元素

$array=array_diff($array,['strawberry']);

Answer 7

Will be like this:

 function rmv_val($var)
 {
     return(!($var == 'strawberry'));
 }

 $array = array('apple', 'orange', 'strawberry', 'blueberry', 'kiwi');

 $array_res = array_filter($array, "rmv_val");

Answer 8

This is a simple reiteration that can delete multiple values in the array.

    // Your array
    $list = array("apple", "orange", "strawberry", "lemon", "banana");

    // Initilize what to delete
    $delete_val = array("orange", "lemon", "banana");

    // Search for the array key and unset   
    foreach($delete_val as $key){
        $keyToDelete = array_search($key, $list);
        unset($list[$keyToDelete]);
    }

Answer 9

I'm currently using this function:

function array_delete($del_val, $array) {
    if(is_array($del_val)) {
         foreach ($del_val as $del_key => $del_value) {
            foreach ($array as $key => $value){
                if ($value == $del_value) {
                    unset($array[$key]);
                }
            }
        }
    } else {
        foreach ($array as $key => $value){
            if ($value == $del_val) {
                unset($array[$key]);
            }
        }
    }
    return array_values($array);
}

You can input an array or only a string with the element(s) which should be removed. Write it like this:

$detils = array('apple', 'orange', 'strawberry', 'blueberry', 'kiwi');
$detils = array_delete(array('orange', 'apple'), $detils);

OR

$detils = array_delete('orange', $detils);

It'll also reindex it.

Answer 10

This question has several answers but I want to add something more because when I used unset or array_diff I had several problems to play with the indexes of the new array when the specific element was removed (because the initial index are saved)

I get back to the example :

$array = array('apple', 'orange', 'strawberry', 'blueberry', 'kiwi');
$array_without_strawberries = array_diff($array, array('strawberry'));

or

$array = array('apple', 'orange', 'strawberry', 'blueberry', 'kiwi');
unset($array[array_search('strawberry', $array)]);

If you print the result you will obtain :

foreach ($array_without_strawberries as $data) {
   print_r($data);
}

Result :

> apple
> orange
> blueberry
> kiwi

But the indexes will be saved and so you will access to your element like :

$array_without_strawberries[0] > apple
$array_without_strawberries[1] > orange
$array_without_strawberries[3] > blueberry
$array_without_strawberries[4] > kiwi

And so the final array are not re-indexed. So you need to add after the unset or array_diff :

$array_without_strawberries = array_values($array);

After that your array will have a normal index :

$array_without_strawberries[0] > apple
$array_without_strawberries[1] > orange
$array_without_strawberries[2] > blueberry
$array_without_strawberries[3] > kiwi

Related to this post : Re-Index Array

Hope it will help

Answer 11

A better approach would maybe be to keep your values as keys in an associative array, and then call array_keys() on it when you want to actual array. That way you don't need to use array_search to find your element.

Answer 12

The answer to PHP array delete by value (not key) Given by https://stackoverflow.com/users/924109/rok-kralj

IMO is the best answer as it removes and does not mutate

array_diff( [312, 401, 15, 401, 3], [401] ) // removing 401 returns [312, 15, 3]

It generalizes nicely, you can remove as many elements as you like at the same time, if you want.

Disclaimer: Note that my solution produces a new copy of the array while keeping the old one intact in contrast to the accepted answer which mutates. It might be a bit slower because of this.

Answer 13

I was looking for the answer to the same question and came across this topic. I see two main ways: the combination of array_search & unset and the use of array_diff . At first glance, it seemed to me that the first method would be faster, since does not require the creation of an additional array (as when using array_diff ). But I wrote a small benchmark and made sure that the second method is not only more concise, but also faster! Glad to share this with you. :)

https://glot.io/snippets/f6ow6biaol

Answer 14

I would prefer to use array_key_exists to search for keys in arrays like:

Array([0]=>'A',[1]=>'B',['key'=>'value'])

to find the specified effectively, since array_search and in_array() don't work here. And do removing stuff with unset() .

I think it will help someone.

Answer 15

Create numeric array with delete particular Array value

    <?php
    // create a "numeric" array
    $animals = array('monitor', 'cpu', 'mouse', 'ram', 'wifi', 'usb', 'pendrive');

    //Normarl display
    print_r($animals);
    echo "<br/><br/>";

    //If splice the array
    //array_splice($animals, 2, 2);
    unset($animals[3]); // you can unset the particular value
    print_r($animals);

    ?>

You Can Refer this link..

Answer 16

$remove= "strawberry";
$array = ["apple", "orange", "strawberry", "blueberry", "kiwi"];
foreach ($array as $key => $value) {
        if ($value!=$remove) {
        echo $value.'<br/>';
                continue;
        }
}

Answer 17

Use this simple way hope it will helpful

foreach($array as $k => $value)
    {
      
        if($value == 'strawberry')
        {
          unset($array[$k]);
        }
    }

Answer 18

Using array_seach() , try the following:

if(($key = array_search($del_val, $messages)) !== false) {
    unset($messages[$key]);
}

array_search() returns the key of the element it finds, which can be used to remove that element from the original array using unset() . It will return FALSE on failure, however it can return a "falsey" value on success (your key may be 0 for example), which is why the strict comparison !== operator is used.

The if() statement will check whether array_search() returned a value, and will only perform an action if it did.

Answer 19

unset($array[array_search('strawberry', $array)]);

Answer 20

<?php 
$array = array("apple", "orange", "strawberry", "blueberry", "kiwi");
$delete = "strawberry";
$index = array_search($delete, $array);
array_splice($array, $index, 1);
var_dump($array);
?>

Answer 21

foreach ($get_dept as $key5 => $dept_value) {
                if ($request->role_id == 5 || $request->role_id == 6){
                    array_splice($get_dept, $key5, 1);
                }
            }

Answer 22

You can Try this

<?php

$array = array('apple', 'orange', 'strawberry', 'blueberry', 'kiwi');

$key = in_array("strawberry",$array);

if ($key) {
  
    unset($array[$key]);
    
}

?>

Answer 23

$detils = array('apple', 'orange', 'strawberry', 'blueberry', 'kiwi');
     function remove_embpty($values)
     {
        if($values=='orange')
        {
            $values='any name';
        }
        return $values;
     }
     $detils=array_map('remove_embpty',$detils);
    print_r($detils);

Answer 24

$delete = "strawberry";

$index = array_search($delete, $array);

array_splice($array, $index, 1);