PHP update multidimensional array values from same path multidmensional array

Question

I need to update a multidimensional array by same key paths of a multidimensional array.

I think my code can be better condensed :

//source
$array = [
 "hero" => [
 "name" => "Peter",
 "job" => "Spider Man"
 ],
 "dog" => [
 "age" => 5,
 "toys" => [
 "first" => "bone",
 "second" => "ball"
 ]
 ]
];
//values to update
$toUpdate = [
 "hero" => [
 "name" => "Peter Parker",
 "age" => 26
 ],
 "dog" => [
 "name" => "Rex",
 "toys" => [
 "second" => "frisbee"
 ]
 ]
];
$paths = nested_values($toUpdate);
foreach ($paths as $path => $value) {
 $arr = &$array;
 $parts = explode('/', $path);
 foreach($parts as $key){
 $arr = &$arr[$key];
 }
 $arr = $value;
}
function nested_values ($array, $path="") {
 $output = array();
 foreach ($array as $key => $value) {
 if (is_array($value)) {
 $output = array_merge($output, nested_values($value, (!empty($path)) ? $path.$key."/" : $key."/"));
 }
 else $output[$path.$key] = $value;
 }
 return $output;
}
var_dump($array);
/*
(array) [2 elements]
 hero: 
 (array) [3 elements]
 name: (string) "Peter Parker"
 job: (string) "Spider Man"
 age: (integer) 26 
 dog: 
 (array) [3 elements]
 age: (integer) 5 
 toys: 
 (array) [2 elements]
 first: (string) "bone"
 second: (string) "frisbee"
 name: (string) "Rex"
*/

Answer 1

...wait a sec, am I sitting a job interview?

Yes, we have a native function for this.

Because your array structure is completely associative, array_replace_recursive() is reliable, concise, and self-documenting.

Code: (Demo)

var_export(array_replace_recursive($array, $toUpdate));

• aurepito: I need to perform my google search ^^ Thanks !