php array change $key name?

Is there a function im not seeing that will change a specific array key's name?

Somethings like...

change_key($orig_name,$new_name);

...or am i going to have to loop through the array and create a new array from the old?

 

You could try something like this:

PHP Code:


function array_change_key_name( $orig, $new, &$array )
{
    if ( isset( $array[$orig] ) )
    {
        $array[$new] = $array[$orig];
        unset( $array[$orig] );
    }
    return $array;
}
?>

But that will shift the new key to the end of the array. If you want to maintain the current position, then you'll probably have to loop, creating a new array with the old array's keys and then returning the new array:

PHP Code:


function array_change_key_name( $orig, $new, &$array )
{
    foreach ( $array as $k => $v )
        $return[ ( $k === $orig ) ? $new : $k ] = $v;
    return ( array ) $return;
}
?>

You could easily make the second example recursive for multi-dimensional arrays, but they leave open the possibility of non-unique array keys... so if you'd like to change all matching keys in an array of any depth, you could try this... having to loop, creating a new array with the old array's keys and then returning the new array:

PHP Code:


function array_change_key_name( $orig, $new, &$array )
{
    foreach ( $array as $k => $v )
        $return[ $k === $orig ? $new : $k ] = ( is_array( $v ) ? array_change_key_name( $orig, $new, $v ) : $v );
    return $return;
}
?>

Just tested them all... you should be able to accomplish what you'd like. You could also switch the === for == if types make no difference.

Usage for all three exampels:

PHP Code:

$new_array = array_change_key_name( 'old', 'new', $orig_array );