• In PHP an array is a type of data structure that allows us to store multiple elements of similar data type under a single variable thereby saving us the effort of creating a different variable for every data.
• Using their index or key arrays are helpful to create a list of elements of similar types, which can be accessed.
• Suppose accordingly we want to store five names and print them and it can be easily done by the use of five different string variables.
• Instead of five string variables, the number rises to a hundred, then it would be really difficult for the developer or user to create so many different variables.
• Also using an index or a key array comes into play and helps us to store every element within a single variable and also allows easy access.
• In PHP an array is created using array() function and basically there three types, they are

1. 1. Indexed array
   2. Associative array
   3. Multidimensional array

Indexed array

• Indexed array is represented by number which starts from 0 and we can store integer, object and string in the PHP array.
• By default, all PHP array elements are assigned to an index number.

Sample Code

<?php  
$season=array("January","February","March","April");  
echo "Month are: $month[0], $month[1], $month[2] and $month[3]";  
?>  

Output

Associative Array

• Associative arrays are similar to the indexed arrays but instead of linear storage, every value can be assigned with a user-defined key of string type.
• In PHP we can associate name with each array elements by using => symbol.

Sample Code

<?php    
$salary["Venkat"]="350000";    
$salary["Kishore"]="450000";    
$salary["Nizar"]="200000";    
echo "Venkat salary: ".$salary["Venkat"]."<br/>";  
echo "Kishore salary: ".$salary["Kishore"]."<br/>";  
echo "Nizar salary: ".$salary["Nizar"]."<br/>";  
?>    

Output

Multidimensional Array

• PHP multidimensional array is otherwise known as array of arrays and allows you to store tabular data in an array.
• In the form of matrix PHP multidimensional array can be represented which is represented by row * column.

Sample Code

$emp = array  
  (  
  array(1,"Venkat",400000),  
  array(2,"Kishore",500000),  
  array(3,"Nizar",300000)  
  );  

Output