In PHP, how do I copy arrays in vanilla PHP?

In vanilla PHP, you can copy arrays using a few different methods. The most straightforward way is to use the assignment operator. However, it's important to note that this creates a reference, not a copy. To create a true copy of the array, you can use functions like `array_slice()`, `array_merge()`, or the `...` (spread) operator, depending on your needs. Here’s an example:


        <?php
        // Original array
        $originalArray = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry'];

        // Copying the array using assignment (not a true copy)
        $referenceArray = $originalArray;

        // Copying the array using array_slice()
        $copyArray = array_slice($originalArray, 0);

        // Copying the array using the spread operator (available in PHP 7.4+)
        $spreadArray = [...$originalArray];

        // Modifying the original array
        $originalArray[] = 'date';

        // Displaying the arrays
        print_r($originalArray); // Outputs: Array ( [0] => apple [1] => banana [2] => cherry [3] => date )
        print_r($referenceArray); // Outputs: Array ( [0] => apple [1] => banana [2] => cherry [3] => date )
        print_r($copyArray); // Outputs: Array ( [0] => apple [1] => banana [2] => cherry )
        print_r($spreadArray); // Outputs: Array ( [0] => apple [1] => banana [2] => cherry )
        ?>

In PHP, how do I copy arrays in vanilla PHP?

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In PHP, how do I copy arrays in vanilla PHP?

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