array_replace_recursive

(PHP 5 >= 5.3.0, PHP 7)

Replaces elements from passed arrays into the first array recursively

array array_replace_recursive ( array $array1, array $array2 [, array $... ] )

array_replace_recursive() replaces the values of array1 with the same values from all the following arrays. If a key from the first array exists in the second array, its value will be replaced by the value from the second array. If the key exists in the second array, and not the first, it will be created in the first array. If a key only exists in the first array, it will be left as is. If several arrays are passed for replacement, they will be processed in order, the later array overwriting the previous values.

array_replace_recursive() is recursive : it will recurse into arrays and apply the same process to the inner value.

When the value in array1 is scalar, it will be replaced by the value in array2, may it be scalar or array. When the value in array1 and array2 are both arrays, array_replace_recursive() will replace their respective value recursively.

Parameters:

array1

The array in which elements are replaced.

array2

The array from which elements will be extracted.

...

Optional. More arrays from which elements will be extracted.

Returns:

Returns an array, or NULL if an error occurs.

Examples:

array_replace_recursive() example

<?php
$base = array('citrus' => array( "orange") , 'berries' => array("blackberry", "raspberry"), );
$replacements = array('citrus' => array('pineapple'), 'berries' => array('blueberry'));

$basket = array_replace_recursive($base, $replacements);
print_r($basket);

$basket = array_replace($base, $replacements);
print_r($basket);
?>

The above example will output:

Array
(
    [citrus] => Array
        (
            [0] => pineapple
        )

    [berries] => Array
        (
            [0] => blueberry
            [1] => raspberry
        )

)
Array
(
    [citrus] => Array
        (
            [0] => pineapple
        )

    [berries] => Array
        (
            [0] => blueberry
        )

)

array_replace_recursive() and recursive behavior

<?php
$base = array('citrus' => array("orange") , 'berries' => array("blackberry", "raspberry"), 'others' => 'banana' );
$replacements = array('citrus' => 'pineapple', 'berries' => array('blueberry'), 'others' => array('litchis'));
$replacements2 = array('citrus' => array('pineapple'), 'berries' => array('blueberry'), 'others' => 'litchis');

$basket = array_replace_recursive($base, $replacements, $replacements2);
print_r($basket);

?>

The above example will output:

Array
(
    [citrus] => Array
        (
            [0] => pineapple
        )

    [berries] => Array
        (
            [0] => blueberry
            [1] => raspberry
        )

    [others] => litchis
)