Question

I am trying to create a function (unless one already exists?) which is supposed to accept an “unlimited” amount of arguments (using func_get_args()) to find the value of an array key. Regardless of how deep within the array it is to be found.

Say if I would use $registry->getSetting( 'template', 'default' ); I am supposed to get the value of $this->properties['settings']['template']['default'] or if I would you $registry->getSetting( 'users', 1, 'name', 'first' ); I would expect it to return the value of $this->properties['users'][1]['name']['first'] (just a second example with a couple of extra arguments).

Now, to do something like this, I could count the amount of arguments passed using func_num_args() and then do a switch with different cases. Although, this would limit it to a certain amount of keys.

So I am asking you if there is a way of doing this, to allow an “unlimited” amount rather than a fixed amount of arguments to access a deeper key of an array.

<?PHP
class Registry
{
    // Values are actually fetched from a config file, but for easier understanding
    private $properties = array(
        'settings' => array(
            'template' => array(
                'default' => 'default',
                'caching' => TRUE
            )
        )
    );

    public function getSetting( )
    {
        // do something like
        // return $this->properties['settings'][func_get_args( )];
    }
}
?>

Any help whatsoever is highly appreciated.
Thank you!

Answer 1

<?PHP
class Registry
{
    // Values are actually fetched from a config file, but for easier understanding
    private $properties = array(
        'settings' => array(
            'template' => array(
                'default' => 'default',
                'caching' => TRUE
            )
        )
    );

    public function getSetting()
    {
        $result = $this->properties;

        foreach (func_get_args() as $arg) {
            if (isset($result[$arg])) {
                $result = $result[$arg];
            } else {
                return;
            }
        }

        return $result;
    }
}

$r = new Registry();

var_dump($r->getSetting('settings', 'template', 'default'));

?>