Save array to PHP file

Question

I have a PHP file to store an array:

<?php
  $arr = array (
    "A" => "one",
    "B" => "two",
    "C" => "three"
  );
?>

I am using require to open the file, and each entry loads into a form. (foreach loop) I would like to save the $_POST variables back (overwriting) to the original file in the same format. I have no trouble making the form and sending back the variables. I just need a way to print the array back into the original file.

Example result:

<?php
  $arr = array (
    "A" => "new value",
    "B" => "other new value",
    "C" => "third new value"
  );
?>

I have been unable to use print_r, as the format returned is incorrect. How can I do this successfully? Thank you.

Why not just use json_encode() and json_encode() if you really want to save the array / object to a file? Or serialize() and unserialize(). — WWW
– WWW, Commented Aug 20, 2013 at 18:34
var_export() comes closes to what you want, but there's no built-in PHP function that'd export a structure as executable PHP code. Use serialize() or json_encode() to store the data. — Marc B
– Marc B, Commented Aug 20, 2013 at 18:41

MosheK · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-20 18:45:38Z

67

The function you're looking for is var_export

You would use it like this

file_put_contents($filename, '<?php $arr = ' . var_export($arr, true) . ';');

DEMO

edited Aug 20, 2013 at 18:45

answered Aug 20, 2013 at 18:40

MosheK

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Jason Crittenden · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-20 18:45:15Z

7

You probably don't want to be re-writing your php code on the fly.

Two alternatives:

Use a database
Serialize the array, then (over)write to file. When reading the file, you will just want to unserialize the value.
Use json_encode and json_decode as discussed in #2

edited Aug 20, 2013 at 18:45

answered Aug 20, 2013 at 18:34

Jason Crittenden

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3 Comments

Mooseman Over a year ago

I would like to be able to manually edit the file containing the array; the serialized array is not very readable when you have numerous entries.

Jason Crittenden Over a year ago

json_encode / json_decode is definitely a workable alternative that will result in something a bit more readable/editable.

markus Over a year ago

There are use cases where writing a php file with an array makes sense. E.g. writing of sensitive config files at app install.

BenMorel · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-01 18:08:26Z

3

There's actually several ways to achieve that.

Open your file and write into it with file_put_contents() (http://php.net/manual/fr/function.file-put-contents.php)
write to the file your array encoded to string with JSON.encode (http://www.php.net/manual/fr/function.json-encode.php)
read your file with file_get_contents (file_get_contents)
convert your string to an array with JSON.decode (http://www.php.net/manual/fr/function.json-decode.php)

edited Feb 1, 2014 at 18:08

BenMorel

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answered Aug 20, 2013 at 18:40

vinyll

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