Question

I have an array with a key and 3 values (day, start_time, end_time). I want to keep adding certain entries into this array while making sure each entry is unique. That means that every time I try to add an item into the array, I want to make sure it does not already exist in it. If it does exist, I want to be able to find the key that indicates that entry.

For example, this is the pre-existing array:

$array [0][0] = Monday
$array [0][1] = 2
$array [0][2] = 4
$array [1][0] = Tuesday
$array [1][1] = 3
$array [1][2] = 5

If I try to insert (Wednesday, 3, 5), then it should make the entry in the index 2.

If I try to insert (Monday, 2, 4), I need to be able to know that it is already in there and is indexed by 0.

How do I go about doing this?

Answer 1

I agree with the other answers here — it might be better to restructure your array so that there is no need to worry about duplication at all.

If you want to keep your current structure, however: use array_search.

$array = ...
$unique_check = array_search(array('Monday', 2, 4), $array);

if ( $unique_check === false )
    // add to array
else
    // $unique_check = the array key at which the existing matching element is located