CODEWITHSUNDEEP
php
user2989731
user2989731

Reputation: 1359

Best practice for clearing an array

I have an array that I would like to clear the values out of and I'm wondering what the best way to accomplish this is.

I tried setting it to nothing:

$array = array();

... later on
$array = "";

Afterwards I'll add new values to it later:

foreach($something as $thing):
    $array[] = $thing['item'];
endforeach;

And it seems to have done what I needed it too. But after a quick search online I'm seeing a lot of recommendations to do the following instead:

unset($array);
$array = array();

Is there any difference between this action and the one I performed up top?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 72

Answers (2)

Felix Guo
Felix Guo

Reputation: 2708

I believe that array() explicitly defines it as an array. Your first statement $array = "" sets it to an empty string. Using unset will "reset" the variable, so it's neither a string or array until you assign a value to it, and $array = array() simply defines it as a new blank array.

Upvotes: 0

R. Barzell
R. Barzell

Reputation: 674

Setting $array to "" sets your variable to a string value, and unset removes the variable. Since you are just trying to clear the array, then $array = array() should be good enough.

Upvotes: 2

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