compare multi-dimensional arrays and return they keys who's values are different

[BHance]

Hello All,

I have 2 data sources. Data source A needs information to be updated on a regular basis. It receives it's updated information from data source B. There are many thousands of records involved here so I am trying to limit the amount of MySql queries as much as possible. I've managed to get both of these data sources into separate multi-dimensional arrays.

I need to write a function that will compare data source A with data source B and, in a new array, have the keys that need to be changed with only the values that are different.

Here is a visual:

Multi-dimensional array from datasource A

Array
(
    ["product_a"] => 
        Array (
                       ["description"]=>"Product A is Large"
                       ["color"]=>"Red"
                       ["quantity"]=>5
                  )
    ["product_b"] => 
        Array (
                       ["description"]=>"Product B is Small"
                       ["color"]=>"Blue"
                       ["quantity"]=>20
                  )
    ["product_c"] => 
        Array (
                       ["description"]=>"Product C has batteries included"
                       ["color"]=>"Green"
                       ["quantity"]=>7
                  )
)

Multi-dimensional array from datasource B

Array
(
    ["product_a"] => 
        Array (
                       ["description"]=>"Product A is Large"
                       ["color"]=>"Yellow"
                       ["quantity"]=>8
                  )
    ["product_b"] => 
        Array (
                       ["description"]=>"Product B is Small"
                       ["color"]=>"Blue"
                       ["quantity"]=>20
                  )
    ["product_c"] => 
        Array (
                       ["description"]=>"Product C is made of Wax"
                       ["color"]=>"Green"
                       ["quantity"]=>7
                  )
)

Here is what the new array should look like:

Array
(
    ["product_a"] => 
        Array (
                       ["color"]=>"Yellow"
                       ["quantity"]=>8
                  )
    ["product_c"] => 
        Array (
                       ["description"]=>"Product C is made of Wax"
                  )
)

I know the function probably uses some form of the php built in array_diff function and I am sure there is recursion involved but I can't, for the life of me, figure out how to do this.

I am a beginner programmer so any help would be much appreciated.

[BHance]

I think I figured it out and it's remarkably simple (almost too simple).

I have two ways of doing it though:

This way seems to perform about 10% faster according to my benchmarks.

foreach ($products as $k1 => $v1) {
	if (array_diff($excel_items[$k1], $products[$k1])){
		$update_items[$k1] = array_diff($excel_items[$k1], $products[$k1]);
	}
}

This way works as well but a tad slower.

foreach ($products as $k1 => $v1) {
	$update_items[$k1] = array_diff($excel_items[$k1], $products[$k1]);
	if(empty($update_items[$k1])){
		unset($update_items[$k1]);
	}
}

In both, I am just looping through the keys of the data source A and using array_diff, checking for differences in the other data souce B. If there is a difference I add it to a new array.

The first function works well but I don't like that I have to run the array_diff funtion twice on each iteration (there has to be a cleaner way of doing that).

With the second function I do the array_diff (it returns an empty array if there is nothing different which I thought to be unusual) and then just unset the key if it's empty. I liked this way better but the performance testing is telling me otherwise.

Any ways I can improve this?

Is there anyway to do this better?

[visser]

foreach ($products as $k1 => $v1) {
	$update_items[$k1] = array_diff($excel_items[$k1], $products[$k1]);
	if(empty($update_items[$k1])){
		unset($update_items[$k1]);
	}
}

This is working a charm, how can I add support for RRP and Cost key's on both Array A and Array B (i.e. if a product RRP or Cost changes the item is added to $update_items).

[wcgoran]

Hello BHance
Here's how you can improve the function.

foreach ($products as $k1 => $v1)
{

        if ( $u = array_diff($excel_items[$k1], $products[$k1]) )
        {

                $update_items[$k1] = $u;

        }

}