How to convert an array into an object using stdClass() [duplicate]

Question

I have made the following array:

$clasa = array(
        'e1' => array('nume' => 'Nitu', 'prenume' => 'Andrei', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 23),
        'e2' => array('nume' => 'Nae', 'prenume' => 'Ionel', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 27),
        'e3' => array('nume' => 'Noman', 'prenume' => 'Alice', 'sex' => 'f', 'varsta' => 22),
        'e4' => array('nume' => 'Geangos', 'prenume' => 'Bogdan', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 23),
        'e5' => array('nume' => 'Vasile', 'prenume' => 'Mihai', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 25)
);

I would like to know how to convert this array into an object using stdClass(), I'm a PHP beginner, a simple example would be very helpful, I've tried searching for similar questions, but the answers are complicated and go beyond my understanding of basic classes and objects.

Caprifoliaceous

Answer 1

You just add this code

$clasa = (object) array(
            'e1' => array('nume' => 'Nitu', 'prenume' => 'Andrei', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 23),
            'e2' => array('nume' => 'Nae', 'prenume' => 'Ionel', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 27),
            'e3' => array('nume' => 'Noman', 'prenume' => 'Alice', 'sex' => 'f', 'varsta' => 22),
            'e4' => array('nume' => 'Geangos', 'prenume' => 'Bogdan', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 23),
            'e5' => array('nume' => 'Vasile', 'prenume' => 'Mihai', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 25)
);

If you want to see is this stdClass object just call this

print_r($clasa);

If you want to convert an array to object code will be

$arr = array('a'=>'apple','b'=>'ball');
$arr = (object) $arr;

You don't need to use stdClass. It will automatically converted to stdClass

Hord

Not working for nested arrays – Laband

you would have to do the conversion recursively for the nested arrays, see @darleys answer below – Pill

Try this way for nested arrays: $class = (object) [ 'e1' => (object) ['num' => 'Nitu', 'sex' => 'm'], 'e2' => (object) ['num' => 'Nae', 'sex' => 'm'] ] – Seepage

Answer 2

The quick and dirty way is using json_encode and json_decode which will turn the entire array (including sub elements) into an object.

$clasa = json_decode(json_encode($clasa)); //Turn it into an object

The same can be used to convert an object into an array. Simply add , true to json_decode to return an associated array:

$clasa = json_decode(json_encode($clasa), true); //Turn it into an array

---

An alternate way (without being dirty) is simply a recursive function:

function convertToObject($array) {
    $object = new stdClass();
    foreach ($array as $key => $value) {
        if (is_array($value)) {
            $value = convertToObject($value);
        }
        $object->$key = $value;
    }
    return $object;
}

or in full code:

<?php
    function convertToObject($array) {
        $object = new stdClass();
        foreach ($array as $key => $value) {
            if (is_array($value)) {
                $value = convertToObject($value);
            }
            $object->$key = $value;
        }
        return $object;
    }

    $clasa = array(
            'e1' => array('nume' => 'Nitu', 'prenume' => 'Andrei', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 23),
            'e2' => array('nume' => 'Nae', 'prenume' => 'Ionel', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 27),
            'e3' => array('nume' => 'Noman', 'prenume' => 'Alice', 'sex' => 'f', 'varsta' => 22),
            'e4' => array('nume' => 'Geangos', 'prenume' => 'Bogdan', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 23),
            'e5' => array('nume' => 'Vasile', 'prenume' => 'Mihai', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 25)
    );

    $obj = convertToObject($clasa);
    print_r($obj);
?>

which outputs (note that there's no arrays - only stdClass's):

stdClass Object
(
    [e1] => stdClass Object
        (
            [nume] => Nitu
            [prenume] => Andrei
            [sex] => m
            [varsta] => 23
        )

    [e2] => stdClass Object
        (
            [nume] => Nae
            [prenume] => Ionel
            [sex] => m
            [varsta] => 27
        )

    [e3] => stdClass Object
        (
            [nume] => Noman
            [prenume] => Alice
            [sex] => f
            [varsta] => 22
        )

    [e4] => stdClass Object
        (
            [nume] => Geangos
            [prenume] => Bogdan
            [sex] => m
            [varsta] => 23
        )

    [e5] => stdClass Object
        (
            [nume] => Vasile
            [prenume] => Mihai
            [sex] => m
            [varsta] => 25
        )

)

So you'd refer to it by $obj->e5->nume.

DEMO

Commination

It's already an array, so why do you need to convert it into an array again? – Balikpapan

Awesome, but from what I've read, this solution is more or less slower to execute. – Caprifoliaceous

@AmalMurali It was to add to the point that this can be used to convert array -> object and object -> array. Read the post again: The same can be used to convert an object into an array. – Commination

@Caprifoliaceous That is true. Alternatively you can check my edit for a non-dirty solution. – Commination

The benefit of this solution json_decode(json_encode($clasa)) over just using (object) to cast the array into an object is that the latter doesn't do it recursively so any inner arrays remain arrays. – Magnetochemistry

I hate how people just take easier looking option instead of embracing the proper one, this one is almost complete and shows two methods much better than simple typecasting – Sauers

Works for nested arrays also – Laband

Answer 3

If you want to recursively convert the entire array into an Object type (stdClass) then , below is the best method and it's not time-consuming or memory deficient especially when you want to do a recursive (multi-level) conversion compared to writing your own function.

$array_object = json_decode(json_encode($array));

Chifley

It looks like still not all of array are converted – Chiropodist

Answer 4

One of the easiest solution is

$objectData = (object) $arrayData

Lebrun

Does not work with nested arrays. They will still be arrays, not stdClass. – Yuzik

Answer 5

To convert array to object using stdClass just add (object) to array u declare.

EX:

echo $array['value'];
echo $object->value;

to convert object to array

$obj = (object)$array;

to convert array to object

$arr = (array)$object

with these methods you can swap between array and object very easily.

---

Another method is to use json

$object = json_decode(json_encode($array), FALSE);

But this is a much more memory intensive way to do and is not supported by versions of PHP <= 5.1

Crankshaft

Answer 6

Array to stdClass can be done in php this way. (stdClass is already PHP's generic empty class)

$a = stdClass:: __set_state(array());

Actually calling stdClass::__set_state() in PHP 5 will produce a fatal error. thanks @Ozzy for pointing out

This is an example of how you can use __set_state() with a stdClass object in PHP5

class stdClassHelper{

    public static function __set_state(array $array){
        $stdClass = new stdClass();
        foreach ($array as $key => $value){
           $stdClass->$key = $value;
        }
        return $stdClass;
    }
}

$newstd = stdClassHelper::__set_state(array());

Or a nicer way.

$a = (object) array();

Capitulation

Doesn't work with nested arrays – Yuzik

Answer 7

or you can use this thing

$arr = [1,2,3];
$obj = json_decode(json_encode($arr));
print_r($obj);

Eureka

Answer 8

use this Tutorial

<?php
function objectToArray($d) {
        if (is_object($d)) {
            // Gets the properties of the given object
            // with get_object_vars function
            $d = get_object_vars($d);
        }

        if (is_array($d)) {
            /*
            * Return array converted to object
            * Using __FUNCTION__ (Magic constant)
            * for recursive call
            */
            return array_map(__FUNCTION__, $d);
        }
        else {
            // Return array
            return $d;
        }
    }

    function arrayToObject($d) {
        if (is_array($d)) {
            /*
            * Return array converted to object
            * Using __FUNCTION__ (Magic constant)
            * for recursive call
            */
            return (object) array_map(__FUNCTION__, $d);
        }
        else {
            // Return object
            return $d;
        }
    }

        // Create new stdClass Object
    $init = new stdClass;

    // Add some test data
    $init->foo = "Test data";
    $init->bar = new stdClass;
    $init->bar->baaz = "Testing";
    $init->bar->fooz = new stdClass;
    $init->bar->fooz->baz = "Testing again";
    $init->foox = "Just test";

    // Convert array to object and then object back to array
    $array = objectToArray($init);
    $object = arrayToObject($array);

    // Print objects and array
    print_r($init);
    echo "\n";
    print_r($array);
    echo "\n";
    print_r($object);


//OUTPUT
    stdClass Object
(
    [foo] => Test data
    [bar] => stdClass Object
        (
            [baaz] => Testing
            [fooz] => stdClass Object
                (
                    [baz] => Testing again
                )

        )

    [foox] => Just test
)

Array
(
    [foo] => Test data
    [bar] => Array
        (
            [baaz] => Testing
            [fooz] => Array
                (
                    [baz] => Testing again
                )

        )

    [foox] => Just test
)

stdClass Object
(
    [foo] => Test data
    [bar] => stdClass Object
        (
            [baaz] => Testing
            [fooz] => stdClass Object
                (
                    [baz] => Testing again
                )

        )

    [foox] => Just test
)

Nirvana