What is PHP is_array() Function?
is_array() function can tell you whether a variable is an array or not.
No matter whether the defined array is a simple array or associative array or multi-dimensional array or empty array, the function considers all these as arrays. So, if a variable has capability to store collection of data which is the characteristic of an array, the is_array() function treats this variable as an array.
Syntax:
is_array(variable)
Parameters:
This function takes only one parameter which is required.
variable: The variable to check whether it is array or not.
Return Values:
The function returns Boolean value TRUE or FALSE. It returns-
- TRUE (or 1) – If the variable is an array.
- FALSE (or 0)- If the variable is not an array.
Examples:
Example 1:
<?php $var1 = "whether an array or not"; var_dump(is_array($var1)); echo "<br />"; $var2 = 100; var_dump(is_array($var2)); echo "<br />"; $var3 = TRUE; var_dump(is_array($var3)); echo "<br />"; $var4 = ""; var_dump(is_array($var4)); echo "<br />"; $var4 = NULL; var_dump(is_array($var4)); ?>
Output:
bool(false)
bool(false)
bool(false)
bool(false)
bool(false)
Example 2:
<?php
$var1 = array();
var_dump( is_array($var1));
echo "<br />";
echo is_array($var1);
echo "<br />";
$var2 = array(25, 15, -999);
echo is_array($var2);
echo "<br />";
$var3 = array("one"=>"First", "Two"=>"Second", "Three"=>"Third");
echo is_array($var3);
echo "<br />";
$var4 = array(
array(1,2,3),
array(4,5,6)
);
echo is_array($var4);
?>
Output:
bool(true)
1
1
1
1
Practical Usages of is_array() Function:
Before performing array related operations on a variable considering it as an array, you can use this is_array() function to ensure its type.
PHP Version Support:
PHP 4, PHP 5, PHP 7, PHP 8
Summary: PHP is_array() Function
is_array() is a variable handling type function. it is a simple but effect method to check whether a variable is a array or not.