Skip to main content

PHP foreach loop

Introduction to PHP foreach Loop

The foreach loop in PHP is a control structure designed for traversing arrays. It provides an easy and convenient way to iterate over arrays or objects without the necessity of knowing the number of elements or keys.

Basic Syntax of PHP foreach Loop​

The basic syntax of the foreach loop in PHP is as follows:

foreach ($array as $value) {
  // code to be executed;
}

In this syntax:

  • $array is the array that you want to loop through.
  • $value is the temporary variable that holds the current value from the array.

Here's a simple example:

$colors = array("red", "green", "blue");

foreach ($colors as $value) {
  echo "$value <br>";
}

This script will output:

red
green
blue

PHP foreach Loop with Key and Value​

Sometimes, you may also need to get the key of the array elements. PHP foreach loop allows you to do this:

foreach ($array as $key => $value) {
  // code to be executed;
}

In this syntax:

  • $key holds the current key from the array.
  • $value holds the current value from the array.

Let's look at an example:

$age = array("Peter" => "35", "Ben" => "37", "Joe" => "43");

foreach ($age as $key => $value) {
  echo "$key is $value years old.<br>";
}

This script will output:

Peter is 35 years old.
Ben is 37 years old.
Joe is 43 years old.

Looping Through Multidimensional Arrays​

You can also use the PHP foreach loop to iterate through multidimensional arrays. You just need to use another foreach loop inside the main foreach loop. Here's an example:

$cars = array(
  array("Volvo", 22, 18),
  array("BMW", 15, 13),
  array("Saab", 5, 2),
  array("Land Rover", 17, 15)
);

foreach ($cars as $car) {
  foreach ($car as $value) {
    echo "$value ";
  }
  echo "<br>";
}

This script will output:

Volvo 22 18 
BMW 15 13 
Saab 5 2 
Land Rover 17 15

Conclusion​

The PHP foreach loop is a powerful tool for working with arrays. It allows you to iterate over each element in an array without needing to know how many elements the array has or what the keys are. Whether you're working with simple or multidimensional arrays, foreach can help you handle them efficiently. Practice with the examples above and try creating your own to truly get the hang of using foreach in PHP.