Checking if array is multidimensional or not?

Question

1. What is the most efficient way to check if an array is a flat array of primitive values or if it is a multidimensional array?

Answer 1

In my case. I stuck in vary strange condition.
1st case = array("data"=> "name");
2nd case = array("data"=> array("name"=>"username","fname"=>"fname"));
But if data has array instead of value then sizeof() or count() function not work for this condition. Then i create custom function to check.
If first index of array have value then it return "only value"
But if index have array instead of value then it return "has array"
I use this way

 function is_multi($a) {
        foreach ($a as $v) {
          if (is_array($v)) 
          {
            return "has array";
            break;
          }
          break;
        }
        return 'only value';
    }

Special thanks to Vinko Vrsalovic

Answer 2

The native print_r function returns a human-readable string. Just count the "Array" instances.

try...

substr_count(print_r([...array...], true), 'Array') > 1;

$a = array(1 => 'a',2 => 'b',3 => array(1,2,3));
$b = array(1 => 'a',2 => 'b');
$c = array(1 => 'a',2 => 'b','foo' => array(1,array(2)));
$d = array(array());
$e = array(1, array());
$f = array(array(), array());
$g = array("hello", "hi" => "hi there");
$h[] = $g;

var_dump(substr_count(print_r($a, true), 'Array') > 1);
...

//a: bool(true)
//b: bool(false)
//c: bool(true)
//d: bool(true)
//e: bool(true)
//f: bool(true)
//g: bool(false)
//h: bool(true)

On my box, "is_multi took 0.83681297302246 seconds in 500000 times"

Courtesy: Ruach HaKodesh

Answer 3

I think you will find that this function is the simplest, most efficient, and fastest way.

function isMultiArray($a){
    foreach($a as $v) if(is_array($v)) return TRUE;
    return FALSE;
}

You can test it like this:

$a = array(1 => 'a',2 => 'b',3 => array(1,2,3));
$b = array(1 => 'a',2 => 'b');

echo isMultiArray($a) ? 'is multi':'is not multi';
echo '<br />';
echo isMultiArray($b) ? 'is multi':'is not multi';

Answer 4

$is_multi_array = array_reduce(array_keys($arr), function ($carry, $key) use ($arr) { return $carry && is_array($arr[$key]); }, true);

Here is a nice one liner. It iterates over every key to check if the value at that key is an array. This will ensure true

Answer 5

function isMultiArray(array $value)
{
    return is_array(reset($value));
}

Answer 6

This function will return int number of array dimensions (stolen from here).

function countdim($array)
{
   if (is_array(reset($array))) 
     $return = countdim(reset($array)) + 1;
   else
     $return = 1;

   return $return;
}