PHP array_unshift() Function

Definition and Usage

The array_unshift() function inserts new elements to an array. The new array values will be inserted in the beginning of the array. The function's return value is the new number of elements in the array (See example 2).

Syntax

array_unshift(array,value1,value2,value3...)

Parameter Description
array Required. Specifying an array
value1 Required. Specifies a value to insert
value2 Optional. Specifies a value to insert
value3 Optional. Specifies a value to insert


Tips and Notes

Tip: You can add one value, or as many as you like.
Note: Numeric keys will start at 0 and increas by 1 (See example3). String keys will remain the same (See example 1).

Example 1

<?php
$a=array("a"=>"Cat","b"=>"Dog");
array_unshift($a,"Horse");
print_r($a);
?> 
 
OUTPUT :
Array ( [0] => Horse [a] => Cat [b] => Dog )


Example 2

Return value:
<?php
$a=array("a"=>"Cat","b"=>"Dog");
print_r(array_unshift($a,"Horse"));
?> 
 
OUTPUT :
3


Example 3

Numeric keys:
<?php
$a=array(0=>"Cat",1=>"Dog");
array_unshift($a,"Horse");
print_r($a);
?> 
 
OUTPUT :
Array ( [0] => Horse [1] => Cat [2] => Dog )