Convert PHP multidimensional array to JavaScript notation

Question

I am looking for an efficient and clean function to convert PHP multidimensional arrays to javascript notation definitions. For example:

$settings = array(
    "customer" => array(
        "first_name" => "John",
        "last_name" => "Doe",
        "company" => array(
            "name" => "Foobar Inc",
            "address" => "123 Main Street"
        )
    )
)

Should translate into:

echo 'window.customer.first_name = "John"';
echo 'window.customer.last_name = "Doe"';
echo 'window.customer.company.name = "Foobar Inc"';
echo 'window.customer.company.address = "123 Main Street"';

Can you explain a little more about why this approach is necessary over `json_encode`? — scrowler, Feb 27 '14 at 01:28
What you're trying to do is a terrible idea and makes no sense. — Marty, Feb 27 '14 at 01:29

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 27 '14 at 01:19

5

Just use json_encode()

$json = json_encode($settings);

Example:

$settings = array(
    "customer" => array(
        "first_name" => "John",
        "last_name" => "Doe",
        "company" => array(
            "name" => "Foobar Inc",
            "address" => "123 Main Street"
        )
    )
);

echo json_encode($settings);

Output:

{"customer":{"first_name":"John","last_name":"Doe","company":{"name":"Foobar Inc","address":"123 Main Street"}}}

answered Feb 27 '14 at 01:19

John Conde

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@justin I think you will find it works like: `var somevar = ;alert(somevar.customer.first_name);` – Scuzzy Feb 27 '14 at 01:38

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:28

0

It looks like you're trying to generate an .ini file. I'd say you could write a simple recursive function that, given a base string to use as the start of the property name, would then generate a line of output for its value - or a sequence of lines, recursively calling itself, if the value is an array.

Another approach is given here: create ini file, write values in PHP

edited May 23 '17 at 12:28

Community

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1

answered Feb 27 '14 at 01:57

Brian Kendig

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Convert PHP multidimensional array to JavaScript notation

2 Answers2