How to Convert Object to Array in PHP [With Example]

Navigating through the world of PHP development presents a myriad of tasks where understanding data manipulation becomes crucial. One such common challenge that often puzzles beginners and even some seasoned developers is how to convert object to Array in PHP? Through my experience, I’ve realized the importance of mastering this skill, as it bridges the gap between object-oriented and array-based programming paradigms in PHP. This article aims to demystify this process, offering a straightforward guide that leverages PHP’s capabilities to efficiently convert objects into arrays.

Whether you’re dealing with JSON data, API responses, or just need a more accessible way to handle your data, mastering this conversion is crucial. We will explore the basics of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) in PHP and delve into practical examples to illustrate the conversion process. By sharing my first-hand experience and technical insights, I hope to empower aspiring PHP developers to enhance their coding toolkit and embrace the versatility PHP offers. 

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Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) in PHP

One of the key aspects of PHP is object-oriented programming where the data is treated as an object, and software is implemented on it. This is one of the simplified approaches of advanced PHP. Object-oriented programming is achievable with PHP where objects have rules defined by a PHP program they are running in. These rules are called the classes. They are very important if you are looking to convert object to array in PHP. 

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Some OOP Concepts

Before getting into how objects are converted into arrays, let’s first learn about some important terms related to object-oriented programming in PHP.

Class

Classes are the data types defined by a programmer. It includes local function and local data. A class can serve as a template for making multiple instances of the same class of objects.

Object

An individual instance of the data structure is defined by a class. Many objects belonging to a class can be made after defining a class once. Objects are also called as instances.

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Example Defining a Class and its Objects

class Jobs {

   // Members of class Jobs

}

// Creating three objects of Jobs

$software = new Jobs;

$pharmaceutical = new Jobs;

$finance = new Jobs;

Array

An array, in PHP, is a special kind of variable that holds more than one value at a time.

Defining an Array

In PHP, the array is defined with the array function ‘array()’.

Example:

<?php

$numbers = array(“One”, “Two”, “Three”);

echo count($numbers);

?>

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Object to Array PHP

There are mainly two methods by which an object is converted into an array in PHP:

1. By typecasting object to array PHP

2. Using the JSON Decode and Encode Method

Let’s have a look at both in detail:

1. Typecasting Object to Array PHP

Typecasting is a method where one data type variable is utilized into a different data type, and it is simply the exact conversion of a data type. It is also one of the most used methods of converting an object to array in PHP.

In PHP, an object can be converted to an array with the typecasting rules of PHP.

Syntax:

$myArray = (array) $myObj;

Program:

<?php
   class shop {
      public function __inventory( $product1, $product2, $product3){
         $this->product1 = $product1;
         $this->product2 =$product2;
         $this->product3 = $product3;
      }
   }
   $myShop= new shop(“Grocery”, “Cosmetic”, “Grain”);
   echo “Before conversion :”.'</br>’;
   var_dump($myShop);
   $myShopArray = (array)$myShop;
   echo “After conversion :”.'</br>’;
   var_dump($myShopArray);
?>

Output:

 Before conversion:

object(shop)#1 (3) { [“product1″]=> string(5) ” Grocery ” [“product2″]=> string(4) ” Cosmetic ” [“product3″]=> string(4) ” Grain ” }

After conversion:

array(3) { [“product1″]=> string(5) ” Grocery ” [“product2″]=> string(4) ” Cosmetic ” [“product3″]=> string(4) ” Grain ” }

 Explanation of the program:

In the above program, a class “shop” is created. In the ‘shop’ class, the function ‘inventory()’ is created. The function inventory() will be executed when an object is created.

The constructor will receive arguments provided when the object is created with a new keyword. In the first var_dump() expression, the object is printed. The second time, the object is type casted into an array using the type-casting procedure.

2. Using the JSON Decode and Encode Method

Object to array PHP is also done with the JSON decode and encode method. In this method, the json_encode() function returns a JSON encoded string for a given value. The json_decode() function accepts the JSON encoded string and converts it into a PHP array. This is a very popular method used to convert object to array PHP.

Syntax:

$myArray = json_decode(json_encode($object), true);

Program:

<?php
   class employee {
      public function __company($firstname, $lastname) {
         $this->firstname = $firstname;
         $this->lastname = $lastname;
      }
   }
   $myObj = new employee(“Carly”, “Jones”);
   echo “Before conversion:”.'</br>’;
   var_dump($myObj);
   $myArray = json_decode(json_encode($myObj), true);
   echo “After conversion:”.'</br>’;
   var_dump($myArray);
?>

Output:

Before conversion:

object(student)#1 (2) { [“firstname”]=> string(4) ” Carly ” [“lastname”]=> string(6) ” Jones ” }

After conversion:

array(2) { [“firstname”]=> string(4) ” Carly ” [“lastname”]=> string(6) ” Jones ” }

Explanation of the program:

In the program above, a class with the name ‘employee’ is created. In that class, a function ‘company()’ is declared which will be executed during the creation of the object.

The constructor receives the arguments given when creating the object using a new keyword. In the first var_dump() expression, the object is printed and in the second, the object is converted into an array using json_decode and json_encode technique.

How to create an Object from Array in PHP

PHP object to array and how to convert object to array PHP have been covered. We will now examine how to build an object from an array. You are free to use any of the distinct examples mentioned above for PHP object to array to do this in order to meet the demands of your own code.

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Method 1 – 

Use json_decode and json_encode Method

The json decode() and json encode() methods in PHP may be used to create an object from an array, similar to changing an object to an array PHP. The array is first produced, and then it is transformed into an object. The array is transformed into an object using – 

$object = json_decode (json_encode ($array))

The output is then printed out using –

function var_dump(variable of the object)

For example – 

<?php
//Arrays of types of cars
$carArray = [
‘cars’ => [‘Benz’,  ‘BMW’,  ‘AUDI’]
];
//Convert array into an object
$object = json_decode(json_encode($carArray));
//Print array as an object using
var_dump($object);
?>

Output – 

object(stdClass)#1 (1) {
[“cars”] =>
array (3)  {
[0] =>
string(4)  “Benz”
[1] =>
string(3)  “BMW”
[2] =>
string(4) “AUDI”
}
Convert Associative Array into Object 
In this instance, an associative array is transformed into an object using the formula –
$object = (object) $array 
Finally, we use this method to print the output 
var_dump(variable of an object)

For Example 

<?php
//Arrays of types of cars
$carArray = array(
‘cars’ => [‘Benz’ , ‘BMW’ , ‘Audi’],
‘parts’ => [‘tyre’, ‘mirror’, ‘footmat’]
);
//Convert array into an object
$object = (object) $carArray;
//Print array as an object, all elements under $carArray
var_dump($object);
//Print array as an object, only elements within ‘parts’ in $carArray Array
var_dump($object ->parts)
?>

Output – 

object(stdClass)# (2) {
[“cars”] =>
array(3) {
[0] =>
string(4) “Benz”
[1] =>
string(3) “BMW”
[2] =>
string(4) “AUDI”
}
[“parts”] =>
array(3)  {
[0]=>
string(4) “tyre”
[1] =>
string(6) “mirror”
[2] =>
string(7) “footmat”
}
}
array(3)  {
[0]=>
string(4) “tyre”
[1] =>
string(6) “mirror”
[2] =>
string(7) “footmat”
}
Convert a Multidimensional Array to an Object
With this technique, a multidimensional array is transformed into an object by applying the formula 
$object = (object) $array 
Finally, we use this method to print out the variable 
var_dump (variable of an object)

For example – 

<?php
//Arrays of types of cars
$schoolArray = array(
“One” => Array(“student” =>’John Doe’),
“Two” => Array(“subject” => “Introduction to Computer Science’),
“Three” => Array(“grade” = ‘84’)
);
//Convert array into an object
$ibject = (object) $schoolArray;
//Print array as an object, all elements under $schoolArray
var_dump($object);
?>

Output – 

object(stdClass) #1 (3) {
[“one”]=>
array(1) {
[“student”]=>
string(8) “John Doe”
}
[“two”]=>
array(1) {
[“subject”] =>
string (32) “Introduction to Computer Science”
}
[“three”]=>
array(1) {
[“grade”] =>
string(2) “84”
}
}
array(1)  {
[“student”]=>
string(8)  “John Doe”
}
Convert Array to Object With Foreach Loop 
When you wish to turn an array into an object, you may apply the same technique as mentioned for PHP convert object to array, but this time try to use a foreach loop. Additionally, the array is turned into an object using the syntax 
$object = (object) $array
Finally, we use this method to print the variable 
var_dump(variable of an object)

For example 

<?php
//Array of school-related things
$schoolArray = array(
“one” => Array(“student” = > ‘John Doe’),
“two” => Array(“subject” => ‘Introduction to Computer Science’)
“three” => Array(“grade” => ‘84’)
);
$object = new stdClass();
//Using foreach loop
foreach ($schoolArray as $keys => $value)    {
$object -> {$keys} = $value;
}
//Print array as an object, all elements under $schoolArray
var_dump($object);
?>

Output 

object(stdClass)#1 (3) {
[“one”]=>
array(1)  {
[“student”]=>
string(8) “John Doe”
}
[“two”]=>
array(1)  {
[“subject”]=>
string(32) “Introduction to Computer Science”
}
[“three”]=>
array(1)  {
[“grade”]=>
string(2) “84”
}
}

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Conclusion

In this article, we have introduced one of the most prominent topics of PHP. As a programmer, you will be dealing with every aspect of the language and have to work on some of the most complicated PHP concepts when moving to the advanced level. Hope this article highlighting the methods for converting an object to array in PHP will prove out to be a reference point for you.

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