Encode array to JSON string without array indexes

Question

I'm sending a JSON string to the database from Javascript, with the following syntax:

["Product1","Product2","Product3"]

Before I simply put this data in my database without decoding it in php, and it worked without problems when using it again after retreival.

However now I need to make a few changes to the data in the string, so I decode it in PHP, which will result in an array like so:

print_r(json_decode($_POST["myjsonstring"]));
//outputs
//Array
//(
//    [0] => Product1
//    [2] => Product2
//    [3] => Product3
//)

My problem is that when I encode this array back to JSON, the string's format will be the following:

{"0":"Product1","2":"Product2","3":"Product3"}

I need the encoded string to be the same as my javascript creates, so without the array indexes. Is there an easy way to do this?

Why the missing index in your array? I think you are not showing all the code touching this array. If you don't have a continuous set of numerical index values, the json_encode process will treat it like an associative array and encode to object notation instead of array notation. — Mike Brant, Dec 01 '14 at 16:35

score 39 · Accepted Answer · edited Dec 01 '14 at 16:45

39

You want PHP's array_values() function:

$json_out = json_encode(array_values($your_array_here));

edited Dec 01 '14 at 16:45

Glavić

answered Dec 01 '14 at 16:34

Kevin_Kinsey

$json_out = json_encode(array_values($your_array_here)); – Kevin_Kinsey Dec 01 '14 at 16:35
1

Put that example in your answer. – Glavić Dec 01 '14 at 16:35
The missing index might be important, though. – Sirko Dec 01 '14 at 16:36
I'm stumped. The [manual](http://php.net/manual/en/function.array-values.php) says that the `array_values()` function "Returns an **INDEXED** array of values." And when I do `$array2 = array_values($array1)`, both arrays continue to contain indexes of this format: `[0] =>` – rudminda Apr 29 '17 at 17:38
An indexed array is an array that is numerically indexed. Per manual, "array_values() returns all the values from the array and indexes the array numerically." Or do you mean that all the values are empty/blank? – Kevin_Kinsey May 01 '17 at 19:03
1

Is there any way to encode the array without numerical indexes, or any indexes at all? Something like this: `{ "id": 1, "geometry": [ 15.12412412412, 22.12431241241 ] }` – No Reply Dec 12 '19 at 11:47
Well, PHP has to keep track of array members *somehow*, so, no, an array without indexes can't (doesn't?) exist. But getting your desired result is easy enough: ```$geometry = [15.12412412412, 22.1243124124]; $myarray = [ 'id' => 1, 'geometry' => $geometry ]; echo json_encode($myarray);``` – Kevin_Kinsey Dec 13 '19 at 14:44

1 Answers1