[PHP]What are Arrays?[Programming for Kids and Above #4]

Hello!

I’m kat, the manager of ‘kat’s blog.’

This time, which is the fourth installment of the ‘Programming Lessons’ series, I will be talking about arrays.

In my last article, we tried entering one value in one variable, but actually you can also enter multiple values.

Let’s learn how to do that this time!

What we will use this time

The programming environment we will use this time

Let’s use the paiza website which is listed below for executing the program.

paiza website

For those who are doing this for the first time, the way to use it is listed in the page below, so please check it out.

How to use paiza.io[Basics][Programming with Your Browser][PHP]Hello, I'm kat, the manager of 'kat's blog.' This time I would like ...

What are arrays?

I mentioned at the beginning, but arrays are variables which can hold multiple values.

How to enter values

In the case of regular variables;

$number = 1;

you enter only one value like shown above,

however for an array,

$numbers = [1, 2, 3];

like shown above, you write in multiple values inside the [], while separating them with a ‘,’.

Also, you can write it out as,

$numbers = array(1, 2, 3);

Even though how it is written is different, the meaning is the same as when we wrote it inside the [].

How to acquire values

When acquiring values from normal variables, usually you can do this just by writing out the variable. However, in the case of arrays you need to attach a number after the variable. This number, such as [0] or [1], needs to be the number which has the value you wish to take (the number tells which order the value is in).

<?php

$number = 1;
echo $number;  // is the regular way to acquire variables.

<?php

$numbers = [1, 2, 3];   // in the zero position is the value '1,' in the one position is '2,' and in the two position is '3.'
echo $numbers[1];       // this is acquiring the number one value '2.'

Let’s enter letters into a value

You can put in letters as well as numbers into variables.

The way to do this is almost the same as if you were putting in numbers, but you will need to surround the value with ‘(quotations) or with “(double quotations).

Now then, let’s try entering letters both into a variable as well as in an array.

<?php

$fruit = "apple";
echo $fruit;         // "apple" is how it will be displayed.

<?php

$fruits = ["apple", "orange", "banana", "strawberry"];
echo $fruits[1];        // "orange" is how it would be displayed.

Final thoughts

We talked about arrays this time. They are used just as much as regular variables, so please make sure to remember them.

Next time, I’ll be talking about associative arrays. They are easier to use than arrays, so please look forward to it!

See you next time!

ABOUT ME

kat

プログラマー歴7年、2歳の子供を持つパパです。 興味のあることはプログラミングや今後のIT技術などです。 趣味でオンラインカードゲームのサイトを運営しております。 プログラミングを通して社会に貢献していきたいです。