Last Updated : 17 Mar 2025

An array of arrays is called a multidimensional array. Every element in a PHP array may be another array. If an array contains values or key-value pairs with values of single scalar types, it is said to be one-dimensional. If every element in an array consists of one or more scalar values, the array is said to be two-dimensional.

A PHP array may also be a two-dimensional associative array, where the value is another associative array, and each member of the outer array is a key-value pair.

Syntax:

PHP Multidimensional Array Example

Let's see a simple example of PHP multidimensional array to display following tabular data. In this example, we are displaying 3 rows and 3 columns.

Output:

1 Sam 400000
2 John 500000
3 Rick 300000

Performing Iterations on a 2D Array

To go over every element in a 2D array, two nested loops will be required. For array traversal, the foreach loop works well. Similar to a tabular representation of data in rows and columns is a 2D array.

1. Traversing Indexed 2D Array

The example that follows demonstrates how to replicate a 2D array in tabular form:

Output:

    1    2    3    4
   10   20   30   40
  100  200  300  400

2. Traversing Associative 2D Array

Two stacked foreach loops may also be used to explore a 2D associative array. Unpack each row of the outer array in the row-key and row-value variables, then use the inner foreach loop to cycle over each row's contents.

Output:

row1
key11 => val11  key12 => val12  key13 => val13  
row2
key21 => val21  key22 => val22  key23 => val23  
row3
key31 => val31  key32 => val32  key33 => val33  

Accessing the 2D Array's Elements

It is also possible to access and edit an element in a 2D array using the $arr[$key] syntax. The phrase

"$arr[$i][$j]" may be used to obtain and assign the jth element in the ith row of a 2D indexed array.

Indexed 2D Array Example

Output:

Value at [2][2]: 300

Associative 2D Array Example

To access or change the value of a desired column in a 2D associative array, we must utilize the row key and key-value variables.

Output:

Value at row2 - key22 is: val22

Recursive Multidimensional Array Traversal

The recursive function in the following code calls itself if a given key's value is another array. Any array sent as an input to this method will be traversed, and all of its k-v pairings will be shown.

Function Example

Example:

Let us use a 2D associative array as an argument to showarray() function:

Output:

item1 => value1  item2 => value2  item3 => value3  
item4 => value4  item5 => value5  item6 => value6  
item7 => value7  item8 => value8  item9 => value9