Add Additional Objects to JSON Encoded Array

Question

I am currently using a JSON encoded array to display the users in my database for an auto-suggest feature.

It looks something like this:

$sth = mysql_query("SELECT id, name FROM users");$json = array();    while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($sth)) {        $json['name'] = $row['name'];        $json['id'] = $row['id'];        $data[] = $json;    }print json_encode($data);

This returns:

[{"id":"81","name":"John Doe"},{"id":"82","name":"Jane Doe"}]

My question is somewhat 2-fold:

First, how would I manually add an additional object to this output? For example, let's say I wanted to add: {"id":"444","name":"A New Name"}

Thus, it'd look like:

[{"id":"81","name":"John Doe"},{"id":"82","name":"Jane Doe"},{"id":"444","name":"A New Name"}]

Second, let's say I also wanted to add more objects to the array from a separate table as well, such as:

$sth = mysql_query("SELECT id, title FROM another_table");$json = array();    while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($sth)) {        $json['name'] = $row['title'];        $json['id'] = $row['id'];        $data[] = $json;    }print json_encode($data);

This way I could have both tables populated in the JSON array, thus, showing up as additional options in my autosuggest.

Hopefully this makes sense, as I've tried hard to articulate what I am trying to accomplish.

Thanks!

And why don't you add them to your array before you do the json_encode? That would make more sense to me. — Aug 17 '10 at 15:46

meder 83.7k25213305 · Accepted Answer · 2010-08-17 15:46:35Z

Just keep pushing to the $data array.

$json = array();    while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($sth)) {        $json['name'] = $row['name'];        $json['id'] = $row['id'];        $data[] = $json;    }$custom = array('name'=>'foo', 'id' => 'bar');$data[] = $custom;

Then at the very end, do your json_encode. Assuming you're not referring to merging it in the JS itself with multiple ajax calls.

And if you have separate scripts, combine them in one php page.

Colin Fine 2,390817 · Answer 2 · 2010-08-17 15:46:13Z

You could edit the JSON (text), but it's much easier to modify the array before you encode it. Or am I missing something?

score 0 · Answer 3

I'm not an expert in any of these fields, but I'll try and see if I can help. Try one of these:

Option 1 (I don't know how unions work in mysql):

$sth = mysql_query("SELECT id, name FROM users union SELECT id, name FROM (SELECT id, title as name from another_table) as T2");     $json = array();         while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($sth)) {             $json['name'] = $row['name'];             $json['id'] = $row['id'];         }    $json['name'] = 'A new name';    $json['id'] = '444';    $data[] = $json;     print json_encode($data);

I've never done PHP, so I'm making assumptions. I've also never used MySql, so there's more assumptions.

Option 2:

$sth = mysql_query("SELECT id, name FROM users");     $json = array();         while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($sth)) {             $json['name'] = $row['name'];             $json['id'] = $row['id'];         }$sth = mysql_query("SELECT id, title from another_table");         while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($sth)) {             $json['name'] = $row['title'];             $json['id'] = $row['id'];         }    $json['name'] = 'A new name';    $json['id'] = '444';    $data[] = $json;     print json_encode($data);

Hope this helps.

meder 83.7k25213305 · Accepted Answer · 2010-08-17 15:46:35Z