Simple PHP array to Javascript array

Question

I have an array in php lets call it:

$nums = array(10,25,52,32,35,23);

I want to send it to my javascript function like this:

var nums=[10,25,52,32,35,23];

How can i do this? (My javascript file name is "nums.js")

Edit:

nums.js is a javascript code. It changes the values of table in the html. But the values only exist in php. So i have to send the values to javascript.

Answer 1

PHP>= 5.2

The json_encode function is for this purpose:

<?php echo 'var nums=' . json_encode(array(10,25,52,32,35,23)) . ';'; ?>

Docs: http://php.net/json_encode

PHP < 5.2

If you can't use json_encode, take a look at this post for a way to define an equivalent.

• yigitserin: This prints the array into my web page. But dont change the values in my javascript. My code is like this: <?php $nums = array(10,25,52,32,35,23); ?> <script src="nums.js"></script> I want to change the values inside the nums.js file.
• Givi: @user3179249 easiest way is add new script tag before external javascript, e.g: <script> var nums = "<?php echo json_encode(array(10,20)); ?>"; nums = JSON.parse(nums); </script><script src="nums.js"></script>
• yigitserin: Tried it that way, still my array in nums.js is not overwritten.
• scrowler: You can't overwrite a variable in a different file like that... You'll need to pass the variable into the script using a function of some sort.

Answer 2

As long as your javascript file is being parsed by PHP before being sent to the client, then this should work:

<?php echo "var nums=[" . implode(',', $nums) . "];"; ?>

• display-name-is-missing: +1, simple, good ol' PHP. Though I heard using single quotes gives faster page load ;).
• yigitserin: What do you mean by parsed? I run my javascript at the end of the page like this: <script src="nums.js"></script>
• Rob: @DanielLisik Logically, that's true, but I can't imagine it ever making a noticeable difference. Still, I actually usually use single quotes for text strings anyway.
• Rob: @user3179249 - then you should be fine. As long as it's included in the same file as your PHP.
• Mike Brant: NO. Don't build the array representation manually. This is poor coding practice. Use json_encode(). Among other things this will make sure values are properly escaped and data types are properly sent.

Answer 3

Just json_encode() the array and then output it as an array literal in javascript.

<?php
$nums = array(10,25,52,32,35,23);
$nums_json = json_encode($nums);
?>
<script type="text/javascript">
var nums = <?php echo $nums_json; ?>;
</script>

Answer 4

you can also use json_encode() but only possible from php 5.2 see more: https://www.php.net/manual/fr/function.json-encode.php

or you can use this function:

function php2js ($var) {
  if (is_array($var)) {
    $res = "[";
    $array = array();
    foreach ($var as $a_var) {
      $array[] = php2js($a_var);
    }
    return "[" . join(",", $array) . "]";
  }
  elseif (is_bool($var)) {
    return $var ? "true" : "false";
  }
  elseif (is_int($var) || is_integer($var) || is_double($var) || is_float($var)) {
    return $var;
  }
  elseif (is_string($var)) {
    return "\"" . addslashes(stripslashes($var)) . "\"";
  }
  return FALSE;
}

• Mike Brant: This FIRST suggestion should be to use json_encode(), not to use it as an afterthought. Even if you don't have native PHP json_encode() there are PHP libraries out there to do this for you. You should not be manually building the JSON representation from the array.