How to edit an object property within an array of objects using PHP?

Question

In the code below, I create an object instance $T, give its properties values, and add it to my array of objects called $teacherObjArray. However, where I'm having trouble is if the object instance already exists (this is checked by the teacherExists() function)... how does does the program know which $T object I am accessing? In other words, How can I program it to where it UPDATES the CORRECT within the array of objects? My definition of correct is where $teacherName is the same as object property LName. I appreciate the help :)

function teacherExists($teacherObjArray, $teacherName) {
    foreach ($teacherObjArray as $Teacher) {
        if ($Teacher->LName == $teacherName) return true; //can i return index here? 
    }
    return false;
}
while(sizeOf($r) > 0) 
{
     if (!teacherExists($teacherObjArray, $teacherName)) {
        $T = new Teacher($teachernName, $teacherMaxLoad, $classPeriod); 
        $T->LName = $teacherName;
        $T->MaxLoad = $teacherMaxLoad; 
        $T->addPeriod($classPeriod);  
        array_push($teacherObjArray, $T); 

        //create course object

        $C = new Course($courseNumber, $courseName, $teacherName, $classPeriod); 
        $C->CourseNumber=$courseNumber;
        $C->CourseName=$courseName; 
        $C->CourseTeacher=$teacherName;
        $C->CoursePeriod=$classPeriod; 

        maintenance($r, $teacherName, $classPeriod, $cn); 
    }
        //updates already existing object in array of objects
    elseif (teacherExists($teacherObjArray, $teacherName)) 
    {
        //get teacher object where its LName property is equal to $teacherName 

        $T->addPeriod($classPeriod);
        maintenance($r, $teacherName, $classPeriod, $cn); 
    }
}

$r is the array I have created using mysqli_fetch_array, it is essentially taking a query and representing it in an array form. — Jaqui
– Jaqui, Commented Apr 9, 2020 at 6:43

Nick · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-09 06:41:54Z

1

You can rewrite teacherExists to return the index of the found value, or false when not found:

function teacherExists($teacherObjArray, $teacherName) {
    foreach ($teacherObjArray as $key => $Teacher) {
        if ($Teacher->LName == $teacherName) return $key; 
    }
    return false;
}

and then you can rewrite your if clause to check that the return value is false:

if (($key = teacherExists($teacherObjArray, $teacherName)) === false) {

and your elseif clause simply becomes:

else
{
    //get teacher object where its LName property is equal to $teacherName 
    $T = $teacherObjArray[$key];
    $T->addPeriod($classPeriod);
    maintenance($r, $teacherName, $classPeriod, $cn); 
}

Note that since you call

maintenance($r, $teacherName, $classPeriod, $cn);

at the end of both the if and else clauses, you could move it after the if block.

edited Apr 9, 2020 at 6:41

answered Apr 9, 2020 at 6:38

Nick

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1 Comment

Jacob Mulquin Over a year ago

Another thing to add is that the maintenance function can be called after the if/else statement.

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