For cleared or unset php arrays, are elements garbage collected?

Question

if I unset an array, would its elements be garbage collected or freed up assuming they are not referenced in anywhere else? what if I simply do $array =new array();

Answer 1

The following will modify the array itself and leave it empty:

array_splice($myArray, 0);

And the Splice Documentation

Answer 2

Check-out php < 5.3 garbage collection, do array values need to be set null or does setting the array = null orphan all its elements?, maybe that will help answer your question.

Answer 3

Following simple code answers the question:

        $a = array();
        $a[0] = 'a1';
        $a[1] = 'b2';

        foreach($a as $v)
            echo $v . '<br />';
        //writes content of array

        echo count($a) . '<br />';
        //writes 2

        $a = array(); //CLEAR ARRAY

        foreach($a as $v)
            echo $v . '<br />';
        //writes nothing

        echo count($a) . '<br />';
        //writes 0