PHP array_chunk() Function

The PHP array_chunk() Function is used to split array values into chunks of arrays. So how many array chunks it will create that depends on your given array chunk size.

Syntax

array_chunk(array, size, boolean_value);

1. array – This parameter takes an array.
2. size – The size determines the maximum value of each array chunk.
3. boolean_value – This is an optional parameter and it takes a boolean value (true or false). This parameter is used when you work with an associative array. The Default value is false.
   • true – It Preserves the associative array keys
   • false – It converts the associative array chunks into numeric array chunks.

How does the PHP array_chunk() Function work?

See the following Image to understand that how does the PHP array_chunk() Function work.

Example with a Numeric Array

<?php
$data = array(
    "John", "Mark",
    "Adam", "Joe", 
    "Bruce", "Max", "Sam"
);

$new_data = array_chunk($data,2);

echo "<pre>";
var_dump($new_data);
echo "</pre>";
?>

array(4) {
  [0]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(4) "John"
    [1]=>
    string(4) "Mark"
  }
  [1]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(4) "Adam"
    [1]=>
    string(3) "Joe"
  }
  [2]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(5) "Bruce"
    [1]=>
    string(3) "Max"
  }
  [3]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(3) "Sam"
  }
}

Example with an Associative Array

<?php
$data = array(
    "id" => 1,
    "first_name" => "John",
    "last_name" => "Doe",
    "age" => 21,
    "email" => "[email protected]",
    "phone" => "1-770-736-8031 x56442",
    "website" => "hildegard.org"
);

$new_data = array_chunk($data,2);

echo "<pre>";
var_dump($new_data);
echo "</pre>";
?>

array(4) {
  [0]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    int(1)
    [1]=>
    string(4) "John"
  }
  [1]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(3) "Doe"
    [1]=>
    int(21)
  }
  [2]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(14) "[email protected]"
    [1]=>
    string(21) "1-770-736-8031 x56442"
  }
  [3]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(13) "hildegard.org"
  }
}

Preserving the associative array keys

If you want to preserve associative array keys then you need to add the optional parameter and the parameter value is true.

<?php
$data = array(
    "id" => 1,
    "first_name" => "John",
    "last_name" => "Doe",
    "age" => 21,
    "email" => "[email protected]",
    "phone" => "1-770-736-8031 x56442",
    "website" => "hildegard.org"
);

$new_data = array_chunk($data, 2, true);

echo "<pre>";
var_dump($new_data);
echo "</pre>";
?>

array(4) {
  [0]=>
  array(2) {
    ["id"]=>
    int(1)
    ["first_name"]=>
    string(4) "John"
  }
  [1]=>
  array(2) {
    ["last_name"]=>
    string(3) "Doe"
    ["age"]=>
    int(21)
  }
  [2]=>
  array(2) {
    ["email"]=>
    string(14) "[email protected]"
    ["phone"]=>
    string(21) "1-770-736-8031 x56442"
  }
  [3]=>
  array(1) {
    ["website"]=>
    string(13) "hildegard.org"
  }
}

Quick Notes: