I would turn it into CSV form, like so:
$string_version = implode(',', $original_array)
You can turn it back by doing:
$destination_array = explode(',', $string_version)
PHP
php.net › manual › en › function.implode.php
PHP: implode - Manual
It may be worth noting that if you accidentally call implode on a string rather than an array, you do NOT get your string back, you get NULL: <?php var_dump(implode(':', 'xxxxx')); ?> returns NULL This threw me for a little while. ... Even handier if you use the following: <?php $id_nums = array(1,6,12,18,24); $id_nums = implode(", ", $id_nums); $sqlquery = "Select name,email,phone from usertable where user_id IN ($id_nums)"; // $sqlquery becomes "Select name,email,phone from usertable where user_id IN (1,6,12,18,24)" ?> Be sure to escape/sanitize/use prepared statements if you get the ids from users.
Top answer 1 of 7
107
I would turn it into CSV form, like so:
$string_version = implode(',', $original_array)
You can turn it back by doing:
$destination_array = explode(',', $string_version)
2 of 7
64
I would turn it into a json object, with the added benefit of keeping the keys if you are using an associative array:
$stringRepresentation= json_encode($arr);
Convert array string into an array - PHP - SitePoint Forums | Web Development & Design Community
Hi - how do I convert an array string into an array (i.e. the following values into an array). It may already look like an array but PHP is seeing it as a string (just need to convert it please). Array ( [plaintext] => This is an example CV. [filename] => 1345550846.doc ) More on sitepoint.com
0
August 21, 2012Warning: Array to string conversion in Variable method
What if you try $router->{$value['method']}( $value['path'], 'something' ); This is also how you should use array items within double quoted strings, think of it as how you use parenthesis in a math formula, to specify what parts go together. With your original code, PHP can't determine if $router->$value is an array and you are trying to access the 'method' element from that (what it seems to be assuming) versus that you are trying to use the 'method' element of value. wrapping it with the curly braces, ensures it knows you mean the later. Edit: fixed typos More on reddit.com
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May 10, 2024Why does PHP convert integer-string array keys to integer?
The thing is that PHP is used for web stuff, thus all input is coming as string, be it numeric or textual (or binary) data. Having those auto conversions makes that simple. Nowadays the language evolved and frameworks and type handling changed things, but such fundamental issues can not be changed without breaking "everything" Just a few examples what becomes simpler: Given a script like More on reddit.com
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September 4, 2022Javascript Array Is Getting Converted To A String in PHP File?
"The field's value is the second argument to append. This can be a string or Blob (including subclasses such as File). If none of these are specified the value is converted to a string." https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/FormData/append More on reddit.com
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May 31, 202303:51
5 Ways To Convert Array To String In PHP - YouTube
12:40
Data Fetching in Php: Convert Array to String and String to Array.
00:53
Use THIS Method to Convert an Array to String in PHP #php #shorts ...
05:32
7 Ways To Convert String To Array In PHP - YouTube
00:56
Use THIS Method to Convert String to Array in PHP #php #shorts ...
01:46
Convert string with separate commas to an array | PHP | Laravel ...
Top answer 1 of 2
3
As I noted in the comment to you, your example string is invalid. This example shows a valid string version of json. Use json_decode, with the 2nd parameter set to true to turn the embedded objects into array elements.
You will get an embedded array of arrays, but you can easily flatten that using the spread operator (...) with array_merge.
<?php
$string = '[{"006":"BASIC"},{"007":"ADV"}]';
$r = json_decode($string, true);
$r = array_merge(...$r);
print_r($r);
Outputs:
Array
(
[006] => BASIC
[007] => ADV
)
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$string = '[{"006":"BASIC"}, {"007":"ADV"}, {"008":"ADV"}, {"009":"SUPER"}]';
var_dump(json_decode($string, true));
die;
Of if you need to join 2 arrays then you can first decode them and then merge them.
$stringOne = '[{"006":"BASIC"}, {"007":"ADV"}]';
$stringTwo = '[{"008":"ADV"}, {"009":"SUPER"}]';
$finalArray = array_merge(json_decode($stringOne, true), json_decode($stringTwo, true));
var_dump(json_encode($finalArray));
die;
DEV Community
dev.to › programmingdive › convert-an-array-to-string-with-php-500g
PHP Array to String: Convert an Array To String with PHP - DEV Community
November 19, 2020 - To convert an array to a string, one of the common ways to do that is to use the json_encode() function which is used to returns the JSON representation of a value. The syntax for using this function remains very basic- json_encode ( mixed$value ...
freeCodeCamp
freecodecamp.org › news › php-implode-convert-array-to-string-with-join
PHP Implode – Convert Array to String with Join
October 6, 2022 - In PHP, the implode() function is a built-in function that takes an array and converts it to a string. implode() doesn’t modify the original array. It doesn’t matter whether the array is an indexed or associative array.
GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › php › convert-a-string-into-an-array-of-characters-in-php
Convert a String into an Array of Characters in PHP - GeeksforGeeks
July 23, 2025 - The str_split() function is used to convert the given string into an array. This function basically splits the given string into smaller strings of length specified by the user and stores them in an array and returns the array.
W3Schools
w3schools.com › pHp › func_string_explode.asp
PHP explode() Function
The explode() function breaks a string into an array. Note: This function is binary-safe. ... <?php $str = 'one,two,three,four'; // zero limit print_r(explode(',',$str,0)); // positive limit print_r(explode(',',$str,2)); // negative limit ...
W3Schools
w3schools.com › PHP › func_string_implode.asp
PHP implode() Function
The implode() function returns a string from the elements of an array. Note: This function is binary-safe. ... <?php $arr = array('Hello','World!','Beautiful','Day!'); echo implode(" ",$arr)."<br>"; echo implode("+",$arr)."<br>"; echo ...
Simplilearn
simplilearn.com › home › resources › software development › converting string to array in php using different methods
Converting String to Array in PHP Using Different Methods
September 17, 2025 - Understand the need to convert string to array in PHP and explore the complete list of methods used to convert a string to an array in PHP. Start learning now!
Address 5851 Legacy Circle, 6th Floor, Plano, TX 75024 United States
freeCodeCamp
freecodecamp.org › news › php-explode-how-to-split-a-string-into-an-array
PHP Explode – How to Split a String into an Array
October 17, 2022 - $str = "CSS, HTML, PHP, Java, ... comma-separated elements take 1. The index is not more than the limit of 2 specified. The explode() function looks at spaces in the string to split the string into an array....
Web4college
web4college.com › questions › php › how-to-convert-object-array-to-string-php.php
How to convert object or array to string in PHP? | json_encode() | serialize()
We'll learn how to convert an array or object to string with json_encode() and serialize() functions, respectively. json_encode() function accepts the array as an argument and converts it into JSON format.
SitePoint
sitepoint.com › php
Convert array string into an array - PHP - SitePoint Forums | Web Development & Design Community
August 21, 2012 - Hi - how do I convert an array string into an array (i.e. the following values into an array). It may already look like an array but PHP is seeing it as a string (just need to convert it please). Array ( [plaintext] => This is an example CV. [filename] => 1345550846.doc )
ReqBin
reqbin.com › code › php › p9vjxf4s › php-array-to-string-example
How do I convert an array to a string in PHP?
May 24, 2023 - The serialize() function takes an array and converts it to a string. This function is handy if you want to store something in the database and retrieve it for later use. In this Convert PHP Array to String example, we use the implode() function ...
ReqBin
reqbin.com › code › php › bnk8kgym › php-split-string-example
How do I split a string in PHP?
To split a string into an array in PHP, you can use the explode($separator, $string, $limit) function. The explode() is a built-in function that splits strings into arrays. The function takes three parameters: an input string to split, a delimiter, ...
GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › php › how-to-convert-array-to-string-in-php
How to Convert Array to String in PHP? - GeeksforGeeks
July 23, 2025 - json_encode() converts an array into a JSON-formatted string. This method is very popular for data interchange between PHP and JavaScript or APIs.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/phphelp › warning: array to string conversion in variable method
r/PHPhelp on Reddit: Warning: Array to string conversion in Variable method
May 10, 2024 -
I have an issue I know how to solve but I am curios to why I need to make this extra step to make it work.
I have the following code:
foreach ($routes as $key => $value) {
$router->$value["method"]($value["path"], "something");
}
the value inside the array $value["method"] is a string that maps to the method names on the class Router
If I run this code I get the error:Warning: Array to string conversion
If I change the code to the following, it works:
foreach ($routes as $key => $value) {
$method = $value["method"];
$router->$method($value["path"], "something");
}The solution is to extract the value from the array before using it as a variable method. It seems that the PHP interpreter doesn't retrieve the value from the array when it's used directly within a variable method, resulting in an 'array to string' error. Extracting the value first resolves this issue.
anyone could clarify?
Top answer 1 of 3
4
What if you try $router->{$value['method']}( $value['path'], 'something' ); This is also how you should use array items within double quoted strings, think of it as how you use parenthesis in a math formula, to specify what parts go together. With your original code, PHP can't determine if $router->$value is an array and you are trying to access the 'method' element from that (what it seems to be assuming) versus that you are trying to use the 'method' element of value. wrapping it with the curly braces, ensures it knows you mean the later. Edit: fixed typos
2 of 3
2
The statement is ambiguous. If I'm not mistaken, the engine currently interprets it as ($router->$value)["method"]..., which is the oposite of what you want (and the second way how this can be interpreted). It's related to this change in 7.0.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/php › why does php convert integer-string array keys to integer?
r/PHP on Reddit: Why does PHP convert integer-string array keys to integer?
September 4, 2022 -
Example: https://3v4l.org/RmAXf
It is clearly documented - I guess I just never paid close enough attention before: https://www.php.net/manual/en/language.types.array.php#language.types.array.syntax
But I am wondering if anybody knows why? Was this an intentional decision?
Top answer 1 of 8
21
The thing is that PHP is used for web stuff, thus all input is coming as string, be it numeric or textual (or binary) data. Having those auto conversions makes that simple. Nowadays the language evolved and frameworks and type handling changed things, but such fundamental issues can not be changed without breaking "everything" Just a few examples what becomes simpler: Given a script like
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FTFY: https://3v4l.org/KK97T I don’t know the “why” historically, but array in PHP is a pile of different data structures. Any create/write to an array forces it to a coercion of the underlying structure (e.g. whether it is a “list” or a “hash”). Given PHP’s loose type history my guess is since '5' == 5 it was reasonable to create a list out of numerical string keys, and thus those keys get coerced into integers.
Tinkerwell
tinkerwell.app › blog › how-to-use-implode-in-php
How to use implode() in PHP (with examples) - Tinkerwell
In this example, we have an array of booleans, and we use the implode() function to convert them into a string. The resulting string is a list of "1" and "0" values, with a space character between each value.
Wtools
wtools.io › serialize-php-array
Convert PHP Array to Serialized string | WTOOLS
You can donate to us. This will help us improve our free web tools. Paypal ... Unserialize to PHP ArrayConvert PHP Array to JSONConvert PHP Array to XMLConvert PHP Array to YAMLConvert PHP Array to PListConvert PHP array to JS ObjectConvert print_r output to PHP array