Initialize Objects like arrays in PHP?

Question

In PHP, you can initialize arrays with values quickly using the following notation:

$array = array("name" => "member 1", array("name" => "member 1.1") ) ....

is there any way to do this for STDClass objects? I don't know any shorter way than the dreary

$object = new STDClass();
$object->member1 = "hello, I'm 1";
$object->member1->member1 = "hello, I'm 1.1";
$object->member2 = "hello, I'm 2";

you should change the "correct tick" from Tim to the answer of Dumbo — e382df99a7950919789725ceeec126
– e382df99a7950919789725ceeec126, Commented Aug 25, 2012 at 15:09
I tend to make a static ::fromArray(...) method which can instantiate and return new instances, or arrays of them. — That Realty Programmer Guy
– That Realty Programmer Guy, Commented Jul 21, 2023 at 9:25

Gumbo · Accepted Answer · 2009-11-15 21:22:50Z

56

You can use type casting:

$object = (object) array("name" => "member 1", array("name" => "member 1.1") );

answered Nov 15, 2009 at 21:22

Gumbo

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5 Comments

Jani Hartikainen Over a year ago

While I'd personally suggest actually making your classes do something, and using arrays as "dumb containers", this is the way to do it.

Pekka Over a year ago

Jani, you have a point, but I just love addressing containers the -> way. :)

Pekka Over a year ago

Cheers, I didn't know it was that easy - at least for one-dimensional ones.

Pacerier Over a year ago

@Gumbo, This wouldn't work above 1D. Simplest solution is to write our own function that expands it.

ToolmakerSteve Over a year ago

This should probably also have (object) before the second array. See @nickl-'s answer.

nickl- · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-14 19:45:28Z

31

I also up-voted Gumbo as the preferred solution but what he suggested is not exactly what was asked, which may lead to some confusion as to why member1o looks more like a member1a.

To ensure this is clear now, the two ways (now 3 ways since 5.4) to produce the same stdClass in php.

As per the question's long or manual approach:

$object = new stdClass;
$object->member1 = "hello, I'm 1";
$object->member1o = new stdClass;
$object->member1o->member1 = "hello, I'm 1o.1";
$object->member2 = "hello, I'm 2";

The shorter or single line version (expanded here for clarity) to cast an object from an array, ala Gumbo's suggestion.

$object = (object)array(
     'member1' => "hello, I'm 1",
     'member1o' => (object)array(
         'member1' => "hello, I'm 1o.1",
     ),
     'member2' => "hello, I'm 2",
);

PHP 5.4+ Shortened array declaration style

$object = (object)[
     'member1' => "hello, I'm 1",
     'member1o' => (object)['member1' => "hello, I'm 1o.1"],
     'member2' => "hello, I'm 2",
];

Will both produce exactly the same result:

stdClass Object
(
    [member1] => hello, I'm 1
    [member1o] => stdClass Object
        (
            [member1] => hello, I'm 1o.1
        )

    [member2] => hello, I'm 2
)

nJoy!

edited Jun 14, 2013 at 19:45

answered Jan 12, 2013 at 19:50

nickl-

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2 Comments

The Thirsty Ape Over a year ago

Excellent summary. Good to note the member1o needs to be different from the memeber1 string

Con Antonakos Over a year ago

Thanks for the thorough summary. Hopefully, this gets accepted!

Ng Sek Long · Accepted Answer · 2021-11-25 04:59:31Z

9

From a (post) showing both type casting and using a recursive function to convert single and multi-dimensional arrays to a standard object:

<?php
function arrayToObject($array) {
    if (!is_array($array)) {
        return $array;
    }
  
    $object = new stdClass();
    if (is_array($array) && count($array) > 0) {
        foreach ($array as $name=>$value) {
            $name = strtolower(trim($name));
            if (!empty($name)) {
                $object->$name = arrayToObject($value);
            }
        }
        return $object;
    }
    else {
        return FALSE;
    }
}

Essentially you construct a function that accepts an $array and iterates over all its keys and values. It assigns the values to class properties using the keys.

If a value is an array, you call the function again (recursively), and assign its output as the value.

The example function above does exactly that; however, the logic is probably ordered a bit differently than you'd naturally think about the process.

edited Nov 25, 2021 at 4:59

Ng Sek Long

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answered Nov 15, 2009 at 21:27

Tim Lytle

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4 Comments

Pekka Over a year ago

I asked for multi-dimensional arrays, so this is it. Thanks.

Pekka Over a year ago

For the moment, I will work with type casting only. On the long run, I will go for a mix between gnud's and this answer: A dumb_container object that can work recursively. Thanks all.

Taha Paksu Over a year ago

Can you expand this answer to here? The link could've been dead.

AaA Over a year ago

The Link is in fact dead!

Sparkup · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-01 13:08:29Z

6

You can use :

$object = (object)[]; // shorter version of (object)array();

$object->foo = 'bar';

answered Feb 1, 2015 at 13:08

Sparkup

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Comments

gnud · Accepted Answer · 2009-11-15 21:31:17Z

5

I use a class I name Dict:

class Dict {

    public function __construct($values = array()) {
        foreach($values as $k => $v) {
            $this->{$k} = $v;
        }
    }
}

It also has functions for merging with other objects and arrays, but that's kinda out of the scope of this question.

answered Nov 15, 2009 at 21:31

gnud

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Comments

outis · Accepted Answer · 2009-11-16 01:24:47Z

5

You could try:

function initStdClass($thing) {
    if (is_array($thing)) {
      return (object) array_map(__FUNCTION__, $thing);
    }
    return $thing;
}

edited Nov 16, 2009 at 1:24

answered Nov 15, 2009 at 21:29

outis

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1 Comment

Gumbo Over a year ago

Use __FUNCTION__ for more flexibility.

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 10:31:30Z

4

from this answer to a similar question:

As of PHP7, we have Anonymous Classes which would allow you to extend a class at runtime, including setting of additional properties:

$a = new class() extends MyObject {
    public $property1 = 1;
    public $property2 = 2;
};

echo $a->property1; // prints 1

It's not as succinct as the initializer for array. Not sure if I'd use it. But it is another option you can consider.

edited May 23, 2017 at 10:31

CommunityBot

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answered May 8, 2017 at 10:24

Matthijs Wessels

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Comments

Klesun · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-28 15:21:36Z

2

Another option for deep conversion is to use json_encode + json_decode (it decodes to stdClass by default). This way you won't have to repeat (object) cast in each nested object.

$object = json_decode(json_encode(array(
     'member1' => "hello, I'm 1",
     'member1o' => array(
         'member1' => "hello, I'm 1o.1",
     ),
     'member2' => "hello, I'm 2",
)));

output:

php > print_r($object);
stdClass Object
(
    [member1] => hello, I'm 1
    [member1o] => stdClass Object
        (
            [member1] => hello, I'm 1o.1
        )

    [member2] => hello, I'm 2
)

answered Sep 28, 2016 at 15:21

Klesun

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1 Comment

Klesun Over a year ago

But empty arrays are still treated as arrays, though.

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