My %booksHash = ('php' => 'Professional PHP Programming', 'perl' => 'Programming Perl') My = ('Professional PHP Programming', 'Programming Perl') The same array/hash above would be defined as such Perl has a separate notation for arrays and hashes. According to the PHP manual, mysql_fetch_array 'is not significantly slower' then mysql_fetch_row which returns an array with numerical indexes. The mysql_fetch_array could be considered a good example,because its returning both to be more flexible. Don't mix unless you have good reason to so. $booksMixed = array('php' => 'Professional PHP Programming', 1 => 'Programming Perl') Īcky. If you use mysql_fetch_array you can specify if you want the results returned as an array, hash or both (default).

Sometimes I thought it was hash and I'm trying to access it as an array. You can even mix the types in one array which has caused me some problems. To print the name of the Perl book I'm currently reading, these would be accessed as such: In the second method of declaring the bookArray, when empty brackets are used the index is automagically (just added this word to my MS Word dictionary so it will stop showing up with an underline! NYAH!) set to the next available numerical index. The first is indexed by numbers, the second by strings. You can also use a variable containing the index such as $booksHash which does not need quotes Thank you - The Management Unless you have the hash indexes defined as constants, use single quotes around the string literal for the index. $booksHash = 'Professional PHP Programming' $booksArray = 'Professional PHP Programming' In most cases, I find this more readable and easier to update, $booksHash = array('php' => 'Professional PHP Programming', 'Perl' => 'Programming Perl') $booksArray = array('Professional PHP Programming', 'Programming Perl') In php both are essentially the same datatype. Normally I call this an associative array, but I think I might start calling it the hash that it is.

Hash (or map) - a collection of string keys and values. I know PHP so well, that it helps my understanding to compare Perl to php (Don't flame me Perl folks! I'm not promoting one over the other, just comparing and contrasting).Īrray (or list) - a collection of numerical keys and values. I always said that Perl was cryptic so Perl Elitists could show off their l33t ski11s. I learned Perl a little bit, about 6 years ago when I first started web programming but I didn't know any Perl programmers so I had nobody to pester with questions. Andy, Liz and Brian!) and they are rubbing off on me. I've made a few friends recently who are ultra Perl geeks (Yes, you know who you are.

Perl v s php