Question

How can portions of multidimensional arrays be added to an existing two-dimensional (associative)
array?

For example, for an existing associative array with the following elements:

$builder = array();
$builder['builder_id'] =        $source['id'];
$builder['builder_name'] =      $source['name'];
$builder['builder_address'] =   $source['address'];

how can portions of the following multidimensional array:

$selection[$category['category_name']]['item_name'] = $category_general['item_name'];
$selection[$category['category_name']]['item_source'] = $category_general['item_source'];
$selection[$category['category_name']]['item_image'] = $category_general['item_image'];

be appended to create the following structure:

$builder['builder_id']
$builder['builder_name']
$builder['builder_address']
$builder['category_name']
$builder['category_name']['item_name']
$builder['category_name']['item_source']
$builder['category_name']['item_image']

Assignments like this didn’t work:

$builder['category_name'] = $selection[$category['category_name']];
$builder['category_name'] = $selection[$category['category_name']][];

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

edit:
@symcbean you are correct. assignment failed due to null element in array being assigned.
@Snowsickle thanks for tip which identified source of problem noted.

Answer 1

The first assignment should work.

$builder['category_name'] = $selection[$category['category_name']];

will assign all values contained in the array $selection[$category['category_name']] to the array $builder['category_name'].

DEMO