Array Destructuring & Spread
list() / Short Syntax
Unpack array values into variables in a single statement.
Spread Operator (...)
Unpack an array into a function call or another array. PHP 7.4+ supports spread in arrays.
PHP
Beginner
1 min read
Array Destructuring & Spread
Example
<?php
// list() / [] destructuring
[$first, $second, $third] = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"];
echo $first; // apple
// Skip items
[, $second] = [1, 2, 3];
echo $second; // 2
// Associative destructuring
["name" => $name, "age" => $age] = ["name"=>"Alice","age"=>25];
echo $name; // Alice
// Spread in arrays (PHP 7.4+)
$a = [1, 2, 3];
$b = [0, ...$a, 4, 5]; // [0,1,2,3,4,5]
// Spread in function call
function sum(int ...$nums): int {
return array_sum($nums);
}
echo sum(...[1,2,3,4,5]); // 15
?>