PHP get last element of array

Updated April 4, 2023

Introduction to PHP get last element of array

PHP get last element of an array refers to fetching of the last element present in the associative array using the end() function. end() function in PHP is an inbuild function with a unique capability to manipulate and play with internal pointers associated with the array to point to the last element of the array and then return that last element from the array. This inbuild function used for fetching the last element is compatible with some of the specific PHP versions like PHP version 4, PHP version 5 and PHP 7.

Syntax

Syntax flow for get last element of an array is as follows:

end($src_array)

• end (): This is a function which allows a parameter to be passed from an array, namely src_array.
• src_array: This is the parameter which is passed from the end() function in order to get the last element which is needed.
• Return Type: Return type for the mentioned function is true or false, which signifies that if the value is true, then it will return the last element from the array, and if the value is false, then the value returned will be an empty array without any return type.

How to get last element of array in PHP?

There are several ways to fetch the last element of array in PHP, but still, some ways are recommended because of the requirement. Fetching and manipulation within the elements and array index in PHP are done according to traversal. Thus, it depends on how the data needs to be manipulated.

The ways to get the last element of an array in PHP are as follows:

• Initially, the defined arrays should be traversed properly to get the last element using the end() function.
• End() function is the inbuilt function in PHP which is extensively used to get the last element using internal pointer changes pointing to the last element of an array, which means it all depends on the return type, which has its own significance.
• In case the end function gives the value as true, then it can be said that the last element is fetched properly. But in case the end function gives the value as false, it signifies that the value returned is empty without fetching of the last element.
• Another way of fetching the last element of an array in PHP is using the pop() function, which means that the last element of an array gets deleted easily but with some corner cases like if the array is empty and is not an array, then the value returned will be NULL. Otherwise, it will return the value.
• Also, the last element of an array can be fetched from the multi-dimensional array, which means that in case the last element of an array in PHP is identified, then the value present in the last column of the array can be pulled and manipulated using index key and column key to get as a last element of the column.
• The need for a primary key will be necessary in order to map the column with the key elements in the array list.
• The proper way to recognize the array with the multidimensional array is to compare it with the associative array and its functionalities.

Examples of PHP get last element of array

Different examples are mentioned below:

Example #1

This program is used to demonstrate the retrieval of last element of an array by printing the last element of the array using the end() function as shown. Input to the source array is a list of fruits, and the last element to fetch is Banana, as shown in the output.

Code:

<?php
$arr = array('Apple', 'Guava', 'Banana');
echo end($arr);
?>

Output:

Example #2

This program demonstrates the set of an array in PHP, which is used for fetching the data related to a column from the database and then provide a related element within an indexed column for retrieving the last-named value from the column as shown in the output.

Code:

<?php
$rcrds = array(
array(
'id' => 1124,
'1st_nm' => 'Ani',
'lst_nm' => 'Jo',
),
array(
'id' => 2356,
'1st_nm' => 'Samm',
'lst_nm' => 'Brack',
),
array(
'id' => 7890,
'1st_nm' => 'Brown',
'lst_nm' => 'Dan_l',
),
array(
'id' => 5623,
'1st_nm' => 'Ptr',
'lst_nm' => 'Katty',
)
);
$last_nm = array_column($rcrds, 'lst_nm');
print_r($last_nm);
?>

Output:

Example #3

This program demonstrates the pop() function in PHP, which exclusively demonstrates how the last element from an array is fetched using manipulation by first getting the list and then returning the actual value from the list as the last element as shown in the output. Use of both the end() function and pop() function is done as shown in the output.

Code:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<?php
$arr_lst=array("magenta","green","red","blue","pink");
array_pop($arr_lst);
print_r($arr_lst);
?>
</body>
</html>

Output:

Example #4

This program demonstrates the difference between the last key and end function simultaneously to fetch the last value from an array by consuming a set of arrays as input and giving a string of length 3 as output as shown in the output.

Code:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<?php
$ar_lst = array(
'1st' => 151,
'2nd' => 234,
'lst' => 657,
);
end($ar_lst);
$key_set = key($ar_lst);
var_dump($key_set);
?>
</body>
</html>

Output: