使用字符串访问对象的数组属性

Question

I tried to access an object property which has array form using string variable but not able do so when the string contains index selection. Take a look at this example.. what i was tring to do is to use $access3 like string

$dummy = new stdClass();
$dummy->testNormal = 'itemNormal';
$dummy->testArray = array('item1', 'item2');

$access1 = 'testNormal';
$access2 = 'testArray';
$access3 = 'testArray[0]';

echo 'try access1: ' . $dummy->{$access1} . '<br />';
echo 'try access2: ' . $dummy->{$access2}[0] . '<br />';
echo 'try access3: ' . $dummy->{$access3} . '<br />';
echo 'try direct: ' . $dummy->testArray[0] . '<br />';

The above code will return

try access1: itemNormal
try access2: item1
--- ERROR MESSAGE -- 
try access3:        <-- does not contain anything because of error, my expectation is it will be "item1"
try direct: item1

Is this impossible with php?

Answer 1

$access_handler = explode('[', $access3);
// get array name
$array_name = $access_handler[0];
// get array index
$array_index = substr($access_handler[1], 0, -1);
// call the property
echo $dummy->$array_name[$array_index];

you might create function for this. Otherwise you would have to use eval to evaluate your string, but that is not recommended. Also there are many ways to separate index from array name and then run it as in this example