Comma separated list from array with "and" before last element

Question

I have an array ($number_list) that has a dynamically generated list of values. There will be at least 1 value in the array and no more than 4.

Currently, I have a nice way of having a comma separated list using this...

$comma_list = implode(', ', $number_list);

However, I'd like to keep with English convention and have the word "and" before the last element. So, let's say $number_list contains the values 4, 5, 6, 7. I would want to echo a statement like, "The list is 4, 5, 6, and 7."

Any ideas how to get that and in there?

$comma_list is an array, so the count() function can perfectly fit to tell you how many elements does it have. You need to find the pre-last element ( count($comma_list)-1 ) and append `and` after it — Royal Bg, Aug 27 '13 at 22:39

Jon · Answer 1 · 2016-03-02T21:24:40.053

Remove the last element from the list, implode what's left with commas and then concatenate "and last_element":

$last = array_pop($number_list);
$output = implode(', ', $number_list);
if ($output) {
    $output .= ', and ';
}
$output .= $last;

If you prefer, you can also write the above more tersely as

$last = array_pop($number_list);
$output = $number_list
    ? implode(', ', $number_list).', and '.$last
    : $last;

Update:

I have to admit I initially misread the question and thought that it was about replacing the last comma with "and", not adding an "and" before the final item. I have since edited the answer to target the latter scenario. Note that the code can be easily adapted to do either by selecting " and " or ", and " for the "glue" string respectively.

Concatenation for `$output` is reversed. I cannot edit this as not enough characters changed, but just watch out for that. Good answer! `.=` vs `=.` — GhostToast, Mar 02 '16 at 16:06

ChunkyBaconPlz · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-27T22:46:11.700

9

Try array_pop() to get the last element, then array_push to modify and push the element back:

http://php.net/manual/en/function.array-pop.php

Something like

$last_element = array_pop($number_list);
array_push($number_list, 'and '.$last_element);

Then you can do your implode:

$comma_list = implode(', ', $number_list);

edited Aug 27 '13 at 22:46

answered Aug 27 '13 at 22:40

ChunkyBaconPlz

580
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4

Nice idea, but this will place an Oxford comma before "and". – Jon Aug 27 '13 at 22:43
2

@Jon - Which is exactly what he wanted in his original question. – ChunkyBaconPlz Aug 27 '13 at 22:43
4

Problem with this solution is an array with 0 or 1 element only. So better add code that checks for those cases where it does not work. – hakre Aug 27 '13 at 22:52
For those who don't want the Oxford comma, you can do like this: $number_list = Array(1,2,3,4,5); $last_element = array_pop($number_list); echo implode(', ', $number_list) . ' and ' . $last_element; – legibe Dec 29 '21 at 02:57

hakre · Answer 3 · 2022-04-22T20:59:55.650

3

If the list has at least two elements at the end, you can implode them with " and " (or if your question wasn't borked ", and ") already.

Then you implode the whole array with ", ".

http://php.net/array_splice

Example:

<?php

$numbers = range(1, 4);

array_splice($numbers, -2, 2, implode(' and ', array_slice($numbers, -2)));

echo implode(', ', $numbers); prints "1, 2, 3 and 4"

Demo: https://3v4l.org/DHPla

edited Apr 22 '22 at 20:59

answered Aug 27 '13 at 22:47

hakre

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The eval.in link is dead. Unless mutating `$numbers` is a concern, this looks reliable to me. https://phpize.online/sql/mysql57/undefined/php/php8/f7f2b5d7bfa0eabed7c275ffbb77b671/ – mickmackusa Apr 22 '22 at 13:49
@mickmackusa thx for the hint & link updated to 3v4l.org. cheers. – hakre Apr 22 '22 at 21:03

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 06 '16 at 22:58

1

$number_list = array(4, 5, 6, 7);    
$comma_list = strrev(implode(strrev(', and'), explode(strrev(','), strrev(implode(', ', $number_list)), 2)));
echo 'The list is ' . $comma_list . '.';

Output: The list is 4, 5, 6, and 7.

answered Jun 06 '16 at 22:58

Daerik

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score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 27 '13 at 22:42

0

# pop the last element off the array and formate text
if( count( $number_list )>1 ){
    $and = " and ".array_pop( $number_list );
}else{
    $and = '';
}
# Implode number list , and  append $and
$comma_list = implode(', ', $number_list).$and;

answered Aug 27 '13 at 22:42

Binary Alchemist

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score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Aug 27 '13 at 22:45

strrpos

<?php

$number_list= Array(1,2,3,4,5);
$comma_list = implode(', ', $number_list);
$comma_list = substr($comma_list,0,strrpos($comma_list,',')).' And'.substr($comma_list,strrpos($comma_list,',')+1);
echo $comma_list;
//returns 1, 2, 3, 4 And 5
?>

Comma separated list from array with "and" before last element

6 Answers6

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