What is the Difference Between PHP Explode() and Implode() in PHP ~ Sky global line

PHP explode() and implode() can be used to split strings into array or join the array elements as strings.

In the array function methods, you create an array in the scheme of:

<span class="nv">$foo</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="nx">bars</span><span class="p">()</span>

For example, to set up the array to make the keys sequential number (Example: “0, 1, 2, 3”), you use:

  <span class="nv">$foobars</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="k">array</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="nv">$foo</span><span class="p">,</span> <span class="nv">$bar</span><span class="p">);</span>

This would produce the array like this:

  <span class="nv">$foobars</span><span class="p">[</span><span class="mi">0</span><span class="p">]</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="nv">$foo</span><span class="p">;</span>
  <span class="nv">$foobars</span><span class="p">[</span><span class="mi">1</span><span class="p">]</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="nv">$bars</span><span class="p">;</span>

It is also possible to define the key value:

 <span class="nv">$foobar</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="k">array</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="s1">'foo'</span> <span class="o">=&gt;</span> <span class="nv">$foo</span><span class="p">,</span> <span class="s1">'bars'</span> <span class="o">=&gt;</span> <span class="nv">$bars</span><span class="p">);</span>

This would set the array like this:

  <span class="nv">$foobar</span><span class="p">[</span><span class="s1">'foo'</span><span class="p">]</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="nv">$foo</span><span class="p">;</span>
  <span class="nv">$foobar</span><span class="p">[</span><span class="s1">'bars'</span><span class="p">]</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="nv">$bars</span><span class="p">;</span>

The square brackets methods

The square brackets method allows you to set up by directly setting the value. For example, to make $foobar[1] = $foo, all you need to do is:

 <span class="nv">$foobar</span><span class="p">[</span><span class="mi">1</span><span class="p">]</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="nv">$foos</span><span class="p">;</span>

The same applies for setting the key values

<span class="nv">$foobar</span><span class="p">[</span><span class="s1">'foo'</span><span class="p">]</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="nv">$foos</span><span class="p">;
</span>

<span class="cp">&lt;?php</span>
  <span class="nv">$array</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="k">array</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="s2">"name"</span><span class="o">=&gt;</span><span class="s2">"Toyotas"</span><span class="p">,</span><span class="s2">"type"</span><span class="o">=&gt;</span><span class="s2">"Celicas"</span><span class="p">,</span><span class="s2">"colour"</span><span class="o">=&gt;</span><span class="s2">"blacks"</span><span class="p">,</span><span class="s2">"manufactured"</span><span class="o">=&gt;</span><span class="s2">"1991"</span><span class="p">);</span>
  <span class="nv">$array2</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="k">array</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="s2">"Toyotas"</span><span class="p">,</span><span class="s2">"Celicas"</span><span class="p">,</span><span class="s2">"blacks"</span><span class="p">,</span><span class="s2">"1991"</span><span class="p">);</span>
  <span class="nv">$array3</span> <span class="o">=</span> <span class="k">array</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="s2">"name"</span><span class="o">=&gt;</span><span class="s2">"Toyotas"</span><span class="p">,</span><span class="s2">"Celicas"</span><span class="p">,</span><span class="s2">"colours"</span><span class="o">=&gt;</span><span class="s2">"black"</span><span class="p">,</span><span class="s2">"1991"</span><span class="p">);</span>
  <span class="nb">print_r</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="nv">$array</span><span class="p">);</span>
  <span class="nb">print_r</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="nv">$array2</span><span class="p">);</span>
  <span class="nb">print_r</span><span class="p">(</span><span class="nv">$array3</span><span class="p">);</span>
<span class="cp">?&gt;</span>

<span class="p"> </span>

Explode

Explode function breaks the string into arrays, it accepts three argument, first one is the delimiter that specifies where to break the strings, second one is the strings that needs splitting, and third one is not mandatory but it tells how many arrays to return.

PHP

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

<?php
$string_to_explode = ‘this-strings-needs-some-exploding’;
//Break string into an arrays
$exploded_strings = explode(‘-‘, $string_to_explode);
print_r($exploded_strings);
//output :
// Array ( [0] => this [1] => string [2] => needs [3] => some [4] => exploding )
echo $exploded_strings[0];
echo $exploded_strings[1];
?>

Implode

Unlinke explode() function, implode() joins the arrays values into a strings, and it accepts two argument, first argument the separator which specifies what character to use between array elements, and second one is the collection of array value.

PHP

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

<?php
//array values
$array_values = array(‘eat’,‘sleep’,‘walk’,‘read’,‘write’,‘watch’,‘move’);
//join all array values with “-” hyphen
//output : eat-sleep-walk-read-write-watch-move
echo implode(‘-‘, $array_values);
?>