PHP Indexed Arrays: A Complete Beginner-Friendly Guide

Arrays are one of the most important data structures in PHP. They allow developers to store multiple values in a single variable. Among the different types of arrays in PHP, Indexed Arrays are the simplest and most commonly used.

This guide explains what indexed arrays are, how they work, how to create and access elements, and includes clear developer-friendly examples for your PHP learning series.

What Is an Indexed Array in PHP?

A PHP indexed array is an array where each element is assigned an index number automatically. The index always starts from 0 unless manually changed.

Example:

$colors = ["Red", "Green", "Blue"]; // Indexed automatically as 0,1,2

Indexed arrays are useful when you need to store a list of items such as:

• Names

• Colors

• Numbers

• City list

• Product items

How to Create an Indexed Array in PHP

There are two main ways to create indexed arrays.

1. Using Array Literal (Recommended)

$fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"];  

2. Using the array() Function

$fruits = array("Apple", "Banana", "Mango");

Both methods work exactly the same.

Accessing Indexed Array Elements

You can access elements using their index number.

$fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"];

echo $fruits[0]; // Apple
echo $fruits[2]; // Mango

If you try to access an index that doesn’t exist, PHP will throw a notice.

Adding Elements to an Indexed Array

You can add values simply by using [] without specifying an index.

$numbers = [10, 20, 30];
$numbers[] = 40;      // Adds 40 at index 3
$numbers[] = 50;      // Adds 50 at index 4

Modifying Array Elements

You can change a value by accessing its index.

$fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"];
$fruits[1] = "Orange";  // Banana becomes Orange

Looping Through Indexed Arrays

1. Using for Loop

$colors = ["Red", "Green", "Blue"];

for ($i = 0; $i < count($colors); $i++) {
    echo $colors[$i] . "<br>";
}

2. Using foreach Loop (Recommended)

$colors = ["Red", "Green", "Blue"];

foreach ($colors as $color) {
    echo $color . "<br>";
}

Example: Storing and Printing Student Names

$students = ["Amit", "Rahul", "Sneha", "Priya"];

echo "List of Students:<br>";
foreach ($students as $name) {
    echo $name . "<br>";
}

Useful Built-in Functions for Indexed Arrays

1. count() – Returns number of elements

$count = count($students);

2. array_push() – Adds elements

array_push($students, "Rohan", "Vikas");

3. array_pop() – Removes last element

array_pop($students);

4. sort() – Sorts array in ascending order

sort($students);

5. implode() – Convert array to string

echo implode(", ", $students);

Advantages of Indexed Arrays

• Easy to understand

• Simple syntax

• Fast access using index

• Ideal for lists and collections

Conclusion

Indexed arrays are one of the simplest yet most useful features in PHP. Whether you're storing names, numbers, or a list of items, indexed arrays make it easy to organize and retrieve data quickly. They are essential for beginners and developers working with any kind of list-based data.

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