PHP Multidimensional Arrays

In PHP, a multidimensional array is simply an array within an array. It’s useful when you need to store complex data, like a table of records or a list of products with details.

🔹 Creating a Multidimensional Array

Here’s how to create a 2D array (array with arrays inside it):

<?php
// Creating a multidimensional array
$students = array(
    array("Alice", 24, "Math"),
    array("Bob", 22, "Physics"),
    array("Charlie", 23, "Chemistry")
);

// Accessing elements
echo "Student: " . $students[0][0] . " - Age: " . $students[0][1] . " - Subject: " . $students[0][2];
?>

Try It Now

Output: Student: Alice - Age: 24 - Subject: Math

🔹 Associative Multidimensional Arrays

Using named keys makes data access easier.

<?php
// Creating an associative multidimensional array
$employees = array(
    "emp1" => array("name" => "John", "age" => 30, "role" => "Developer"),
    "emp2" => array("name" => "Jane", "age" => 28, "role" => "Designer"),
    "emp3" => array("name" => "Dave", "age" => 35, "role" => "Manager")
);

// Accessing elements
echo "Employee: " . $employees["emp2"]["name"] . " - Role: " . $employees["emp2"]["role"];
?>

Try It Now

Output: Employee: Jane - Role: Designer

🔹 Looping Through a Multidimensional Array

Use nested foreach loops to access all elements.

<?php
$books = array(
    array("Title" => "1984", "Author" => "George Orwell", "Year" => 1949),
    array("Title" => "To Kill a Mockingbird", "Author" => "Harper Lee", "Year" => 1960),
    array("Title" => "The Great Gatsby", "Author" => "F. Scott Fitzgerald", "Year" => 1925)
);

// Loop through the array
foreach ($books as $book) {
    foreach ($book as $key => $value) {
        echo "$key: $value <br>";
    }
    echo "<br>";
}
?>

Try It Now

Output:


Title: 1984
Author: George Orwell
Year: 1949

Title: To Kill a Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Year: 1960

Title: The Great Gatsby
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Year: 1925

🔹 Adding & Modifying Elements

You can dynamically add or modify elements.

<?php
$movies = array(
    array("title" => "Inception", "year" => 2010),
    array("title" => "Interstellar", "year" => 2014)
);

// Adding a new movie
$movies[] = array("title" => "The Matrix", "year" => 1999);

// Modifying an element
$movies[1]["year"] = 2015;

print_r($movies);
?>

Try It Now

Output:


Array ( [0] => Array ( [title] => Inception, [year] => 2010 )
[1] => Array ( [title] => Interstellar, [year] => 2015 )
[2] => Array ( [title] => The Matrix, [year] => 1999 ) )

🎯 Key Takeaways

  • Multidimensional arrays store arrays inside arrays.
  • Use numeric keys or associative keys.
  • Access elements using multiple indexes like $array[0][1] or $array["key"]["subkey"].
  • Use foreach loops to iterate through all values.
  • Modify and add elements dynamically.

📝 Practice Time!

Create a multidimensional array of your favorite video games 🎮 and their release years!