Can't remove empty values from multi-dimensional array PHP

Question

My multi-dimensional array looks like this:

I've tried array_filter and different loop iterations to remove the zero/null values, such as

function removeElementWithValue($array, $key, $value) {
    foreach($array as $subKey => $subArray) {
        if($subArray[$key] == $value) {
            unset($array[$subKey]);
        }
    }
}

But nothing seems to be working. Any help would be much appreciated!

I think it's an issue with the scope of the variable $array. — fehnomenal
– fehnomenal, Commented Jul 4, 2013 at 13:53
you need to pass reference to your function, otherwise you are not unsetting from the original array — Maxim Krizhanovsky
– Maxim Krizhanovsky, Commented Jul 4, 2013 at 13:53

h2ooooooo · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-04 13:53:08Z

3

You need to recursively call your remove function. (Call the function for every sub-value in the array, and then the function will call itself for every sub-sub-value etc. automatically until it can't get any further down the tree).

Here's a quickly made (untested) function that should remove all empty values (including arrays, if they're empty):

function removeEmptyElements($array) {
    foreach ($array as $key => $value){
        if (empty($value)) {
            unset($array[$key]);
        } else if (is_array($value)) {
            $array[$key] = removeEmptyElements($value);
        }
    }
    return $array;
}

answered Jul 4, 2013 at 13:53

h2ooooooo

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3 Comments

George Cummins Over a year ago

True, but the array should also be passed by reference. Otherwise, the changes only affect the local copy.

h2ooooooo Over a year ago

@GeorgeCummins Considering that the function has return $array, I thought it was quite obvious that you just call it by using $array = removeEmptyElements($array);?

George Cummins Over a year ago

Ah, you are right. That is a change from the OP's original manner of calling the function, so it may be worth noting.

Benz · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-04 14:18:14Z

Maybe this answer is a bit too late, but here it is:

$array = array( // array with examples
    array('123',' 456', array(123, null)),
    array('', null, '123'),
    123,
    234,
    0,
    null,
); 

$filterEmptyValues = function($val) use (&$filterEmptyValues) {
    foreach($val as $key => $value) {
        if (!is_array($value)) {
            if (!$value) unset($val[$key]);
        }
        else $val[$key] = call_user_func($filterEmptyValues, $value);
    }
    return $val;
};


$array = $filterEmptyValues($array) ;

print_r($array);

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