Convert PHP Arrays to String with Implode() in PHP 8

Today we are going to learn how we can convert PHP arrays to strings using PHP 8 implode() function. This function makes array to string conversion in php very easy.

Understand PHP’s implode() function

PHP’s implode() function takes array as a value and returns a string.

Implode Function’s Syntax

Implode function takes 2 parameters seprator and $array let’s find out how it works?

implode(separator,array)

Parameter	Detail
Separator	It’s an optional parameter. This parameter allows you to insert seprator type in your array element. It comes with ” “ empty string.
Array	This is an array which will be converted to a string. It’s an enviable parameter.

Convert PHP Arrays to Strings Examples

Let’s find out how array to string conversion works in PHP, In the below examples i am going to take an array and convert it to the string using PHP’s implode() function.

<?php
  $array = ['Waiting', 'for', 'Avenger', 'End', 'Game'];
  echo implode(" ",$array); // Result: Waiting for Avenger End Game
?>

In below example, we are going to skip the separator parameter. You will se that implode function will add an empty string between array’s elements.

<?php
  $array = ['A', 'v', 'e', 'n', 'g', 'e', 'r'];
  echo implode($array); // Avenger 
?>

Let’s check out if your consist non-string values, in this condition PHP’s implode function will convert all your non-string values to string values.
Note: Implode function convertes true to 1 and NULL & empty value to empty string.

<?php
  $array = [1, false, 0, true, NULL, 0.07];
  echo implode(', ', $array); // 1, , 0, 1, , 0.07 
?>

Conversion result for the some non-string values by implode function:

• true = 1
• NULL = empty string
• empty = empty string

Convert Array of Arrays to String Using PHP’s Implode Function

If you have multiple arrays within your arrays in PHP it will return arrays as a result. Check out in the example below.

<?php
  $movies = [
    'comedy' => ['In the Loop', '21 Jump Street', 'Elf ', 'This Is the End'],
    'war' => ['Dunkirk', 'Hacksaw Ridge', 'Inglourious Basterds', 'Defiance'],
    'action' => ['La La Land', 'The Notebook', 'About Time', 'Twilight'],
    'sci fi' => ['Interstellar', 'Annihilation', 'Gravity', 'Inception'],
  ];
  echo implode(', ', $movies); // Array, Array, Array, Array 
?>

Now lets convert multilevel array into string in PHP using custom function below with Implode() function.

<?php
  
  // $movies array
  $movies = [
    'comedy' => ['In the Loop', '21 Jump Street', 'Elf ', 'This Is the End'],
    'war' => ['Dunkirk', 'Hacksaw Ridge', 'Inglourious Basterds', 'Defiance'],
    'action' => ['La La Land', 'The Notebook', 'About Time', 'Twilight'],
    'sci fi' => ['Interstellar', 'Annihilation', 'Gravity', 'Inception'],
  ];

  // function to convert arrays to string
  function convertArraysToString($array, $separator  = ', ') {
          $str = '';
          foreach ($array as $Array) {
                  $string .= implode($separator, $Array);
          }
          return $string;
  }
  
  // pass $movies array and call the function
  echo convertArraysToString($movies);

 // Result => In the Loop, 21 Jump Street, Elf , This Is the EndDunkirk, Hacksaw Ridge, Inglourious Basterds, DefianceLa La Land, The Notebook, About Time, TwilightInterstellar, Annihilation, Gravity, Inception

?>

PHP Convert to Arrays to Strings Using json_encode() and serialize() methods

In this part of this tutorial, we are going to explore more techniques for converting PHP arrays into strings. We are going to work with json_encode() and serialize() methods.

Using PHP JSON encode Method

PHP offers json_encode() function to handle JSON, it converts objects, arrays into JSON.

<?php
   $array = ["Tony Stark", "Steve Rogers", "Bruce Banner", "Thor"];
   $myJson = json_encode($array);
   echo $myJson; // ["Tony Stark","Steve Rogers","Bruce Banner","Thor"]
?>

PHP serialize() Method Example

The serialize() function in PHP produces a storable representation of a value

<?php
   $array = ["Tony Stark", "Steve Rogers", "Bruce Banner", "Thor"];
   $myJson = serialize($array);
   echo $myJson; 
   //Result => a:4:{i:0;s:10:"Tony Stark";i:1;s:12:"Steve Rogers";i:2;s:12:"Bruce Banner";i:3;s:4:"Thor";}
?>