Sort an array to put a specified item first

robertaccettura

I know this is most likely a simple question for you pro's (i'm still new).

I have an array:

$x = array('apple','orange','pair','grape');

And I have a variable, that just so happens to be also in that array:
$v = 'pair';

I want to sort that array, so that $v is the first thing in the array. Hence, the result should be:

$x = array('pair','orange','apple','grape');

(note it was moved, not copied to the front... still only appears once).

Is there a built in function or some easy mechanism to do this automatically?

LordShryku

I'd use a combo unset and array_unshift

$array = array("apple","orange","pair","grape"); 
$move  = "pair";

if(in_array($move, $array)) {
   /* check if it exists in the array.
      if so, find the key, and remove it
   */
   $key = array_search($move, $array);
   unset($array[$key]);
}
array_unshift($array, $move);

robertaccettura

Hey... that works great. And relatively simple.

PHP has so many great functions. I'm always afraid I'm writing something that already exists.

Thanks for your help.

BTW: Awesome line in your sig. Mind if I borrow that. I collect quotes for my blog:
http://robert.accettura.com

That's golden.

Thanks again.

LordShryku

Yeah, go ahead. I'll only charge you a small royalty 😃