array_unshift() to add one element at beginning of the array in PHP

array_unshift(): prepend values to an array

array_unshift() adds one or more values to the beginning of an array and returns the new number of elements. Numeric keys are reindexed.

$items = ['green', 'blue'];
$count = array_unshift($items, 'red');
print_r($items);
echo $count;

String keys are preserved while numeric keys are renumbered from zero.

$output=array_unshift($input);

Array unshift() to add one element at the beginning of the array

To add one or more element at the beginning of the array. After applying array_unshift() total elements of the array increases by one or more . All numerical array keys are re-indexed but literal keys remain same.

Returns the total number of elements present (after adding using array_unshift() to the array.)

Here $input is an array, $output get the value of total number of elements of the array.

$input=array('One','Two','Three','Four','Five');
$output=array_unshift($input,'added_now');
echo $output; // Output is  6
echo "<br><br>";
foreach ($input as $key => $val) {
echo "$key -> $val <br>";
}

Output of above code is here( $output gets the number of elements present 6 )

6

0 -> added_now 
1 -> One 
2 -> Two 
3 -> Three 
4 -> Four 
5 -> Five

To add more than one element we will change the code like this.

$output=array_unshift($input,'added_one','add_two');

With Literal Keys

$input=array('Fruits1' =>'Banana','Fruits2'=>'Mango','Fruits3'=>'Apple','Fruits4'=>'Grapes');
$output=array_unshift($input, 'Strawberry');
echo $output; // Output is 5
echo "<br><br>";
foreach ($input as $key => $val) {
echo "$key -> $val <br>";
}

Output is here, ( $output gets the first element Banana)

5

0 -> Strawberry 
Fruits1 -> Banana 
Fruits2 -> Mango 
Fruits3 -> Apple 
Fruits4 -> Grapes

Now key of the first element is 0. To add one element with key to an associative array we have to use the code below.

$input=array('Fruits1' =>'Banana','Fruits2'=>'Mango','Fruits3'=>'Apple','Fruits4'=>'Grapes');
$input=array('new_fruit'=> 'Strawberry') + $input;
foreach ($input as $key => $val) {
echo "$key -> $val <br>";
}

Output is here

new_fruit -> Strawberry 
Fruits1 -> Banana 
Fruits2 -> Mango 
Fruits3 -> Apple 
Fruits4 -> Grapes

Using current

By using current() we can get the element to which the present internal pointer is pointing. By defalut it points to first element of the array.

$input=array('Fruits1' =>'Banana','Fruits2'=>'Mango','Fruits3'=>'Apple','Fruits4'=>'Grapes');
echo current($input); 
echo "<br>";
$output=array_unshift($input,'Strawberry');
echo current($input);

Output is here.( The first element is changed from Banana to Mango)

Banana
Strawberry

Array Adding & Removing Elements
array_pop(): Removing Last element of the Array
array_shift(): Removing First element of the Array
array_unset(): Removing element from any position of the Array
array_push(): Adding elements at the end of the Array
array_unshift(): Adding elements at the beginning of the Array

ARRAY REFERENCE
Array REFERENCE

Subhendu Mohapatra

Author & Instructor at plus2net

I write and maintain practical tutorials on Python, PHP, SQL, JavaScript, HTML, jQuery, and web development at plus2net. The tutorials focus on clear explanations, working examples, and code that readers can test and adapt while learning.

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array_unshift(): Adding one element at starting of the array

array_unshift(): prepend values to an array

With Literal Keys

Using current

Subhendu Mohapatra