Count Objects in PHP

Question

I am working with PHP arrays and objects. I have been working with them for quite a while now. However, I am stuck at a problem, which might have a really simple solution.

I have a variable $products inside a function which receives value on call. I am trying to count the objects in the variable to see how many products are inside it. I tried the simple count($products) and count((array)$products) function and it isn't working. I know that isn't the best way to count the objects.

Is there any way to count them?

object(stdClass)#46 (3) {
 ["0"]=>
 object(stdClass)#47 (1) {
 ["productid"]=>
 string(2) "15"
 }
 ["1"]=>
 object(stdClass)#48 (1) {
 ["productid"]=>
 string(2) "16"
 }
 ["2"]=>
 object(stdClass)#48 (1) {
 ["productid"]=>
 string(2) "26"
 }
}

I need this to return 3

object(stdClass)#20 (1) {
 ["productid"]=>
 string(2) "21"
}

I need this to return 1

• jeroen: It would make your life a lot easier if you used arrays of objects instead of an object containing numeric properties. How are you generating this structure and can you change it?
• GordonM: Create a class for these product objects and have it implement the Countable interface?

Answer 1

The count function is meant to be used on

Arrays Objects that are derived from classes that implement the countable interface A stdClass is neither of these. The easier/quickest way to accomplish what you're after is

$count = count(get_object_vars($products));

This uses PHP's get_object_vars function, which will return the properties of an object as an array. You can then use this array with PHP's count function.

Answer 2

From your example, using objects for this seems a very bloated method. Using a simple array would be much easier and faster.

This:

object(stdClass)#46 (3) {
 ["0"]=>
 object(stdClass)#47 (1) {
 ["productid"]=>
 string(2) "15"
 }
}

Could just be this:

array(0 => 15);

Or even this:

array(15);

Your example only seems to be storing a product id, so you don't strictly need a key of "productid"

Is there any specific reason you need to use objects?

Answer 3

Try this: $count = sizeof(get_obj_vars($products))

Here get_obj_vars function converts the $products variable into an array and the sizeof function counts the size of array and stores it into the variable $count

Answer 4

You could do something similar to

count(get_object_vars($obj));

But it seems a bit strange to use a stdClass as an array. Why do you do that?