Convert list into an array using php. How?

Question

I have a function called listelements(), which outputs text like <li>text1</li><li>text2</li>.

I have more than 500 elements. Now I want to convert it into an array.

Can anyone help me? Thanks.

Note: I'm using php

Update:

The thing i want to achieve is alphabetical navigation. As of now my function displays links in list order. Instead of that i want to hold that in an array. Then i would like to filter them using characters.

$valid_characters = range( 'a' , 'z' );
$valid_numbers = array(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0);

When the user click "A" i would like to display only links start with A. Hope this explanation helps you guys for better understanding my question

wouldn't it be easier to just modify the function to output an array in the first place instead of the html code? — Sirko, Feb 11 '12 at 11:32
A comment to my answer states the OP wants `listelemets()` **converted** to return an array, and that some list items contain links. OP please post 1) The source for `listelements()` 2) Details of any/all parameters passed to `listelements()` and 3) The array structure you desire. — Leigh, Feb 11 '12 at 11:54
@Sirko Yes i think so. But it will be confuse me more. I just a php beginner — Giri, Feb 11 '12 at 12:01
@user1091558: Still missing the input to the function, and the array structure you expect returned. — Leigh, Feb 11 '12 at 12:03
@Leigh Sorry, My net got disconnected. Thanks for everything. — Giri, Feb 11 '12 at 13:53
What is the input into `listelemets()`? Use that, it is likely an array itself. — dotancohen, Feb 11 '12 at 11:32

iblue · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-11T11:38:28.743

3

<?php
$output = listelements();
$array = explode("<li>", $output);

//First element will be empty, so remove it
unset($array[0]);

// Now remove "</li>" at end of input
array_walk($array, create_function('&$val', '$val = str_replace("</li>", "", $val)'));

// $array should now contain your elements

edited Feb 11 '12 at 11:38

answered Feb 11 '12 at 11:32

iblue

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In case there is something between 2 li-s, this does not work fine. – axiomer Feb 11 '12 at 11:35
1

Sure, but OP specified the format as multiple concatations of `"
$element

iblue

Feb 11 '12 at 11:37

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 11 '12 at 11:55

2

explode won't do the trick nicely for html tags (considering them as multiple delimiters).

if CPU time is not a concern, try using preg_match, example below:

<?PHP

$input='<li>text1</li><li>text2</li><LI><p>text3</p></lI><Li>text fou4r</li>';

preg_match_all('(<(li|Li|LI|lI)>(.*)</(li|Li|LI|lI)>)siU', $input, $output);

print_r($output[2]);
?>

output:

Array

    (

        [0] => text1
        [1] => text2
        [2] => <p>text3</p>
        [3] => text fou4r
    )

answered Feb 11 '12 at 11:55

Simon Putz

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2

[See this](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/590747/using-regular-expressions-to-parse-html-why-not) – Leigh Feb 11 '12 at 12:05
2

If your pattern is case insensitive, why are you matching all variations of case? And even then why would you do that instead of `[LlIi]`? – cmbuckley Feb 11 '12 at 12:05
I think its better solution than iblue's above... Use regexp instead of explode and str_replace. – lamasgergo Oct 15 '17 at 09:33

Dylan B · Answer 3 · 2020-11-30T08:28:17.187

you can use simple_html_dom https://simplehtmldom.sourceforge.io/manual.htm

require_once(./simple_html_dom.php);
$html = "<ul class=''><li class=''>Swagger transforms unfreshmen into legends of confidence</li><li class=''>Red Zone collection</li><li class=''>Enhances awesomeness</li><li class=''>Continue your confidence with Swagger Anti-perspirant & Deodorant and Body Spray</li><li class=''>Old Spice Red Zone Swagger Scent Men’s Bar Soap</li></ul>";

$result = li_to_array($html);
var_dump($result ); 

    
function li_to_array($str)
{
    if (is_string($str) && !empty($str)) {
        $html = str_get_html($str);
        $results= array();
        $response_results = $html->find('li');
        foreach ($response_results as $response_result){
            array_push($results, $response_result->plaintext);
        } 
        unset($html); //release memory

        return  $results;
    } else {
        return false;
    }
}

axiomer · Answer 4 · 2012-02-11T11:43:18.180

0

$strarr=explode("<li>",$string); //Breaks every <li>
$i=(-1); //Makes -1 as array starts at 0
$arr=array(); //this will be your array
foreach($strarr as $expl){ //Go through all li's
$ai=explode("</li>",$expl);//Get between the li. If there is something between </li> and <li>, it won't return it as you don't need it
if($i!=(-1))$arr[$i]=$ai[0]; //First isn't valid
$i=$i+1; //add i plus one to make it a real array
}

edited Feb 11 '12 at 11:43

answered Feb 11 '12 at 11:29

axiomer

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This has syntax errors; explode() needs an assignment, and there's no "new" keywords for arrays – Damien Pirsy Feb 11 '12 at 11:38
Sorry, my bad, I always forget that. Corrected. – axiomer Feb 11 '12 at 11:39

score -1 · Answer 5 · answered Feb 11 '12 at 11:42

-1

Use "preg_match".

Here is more detail: http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.preg-match-all.php

answered Feb 11 '12 at 11:42

KoolKabin

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http://stackoverflow.com/questions/590747/using-regular-expressions-to-parse-html-why-not – Leigh Feb 11 '12 at 11:49

Convert list into an array using php. How?

Update:

5 Answers5