PHP count() Function

PHP Array Functions

Example

Returns the number of elements in the array:

<?php
$cars=array("Volvo","BMW","Toyota");
echo count($cars);
?>

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Definition and Usage

The count() function returns the number of elements in the array.

Syntax

count(array,mode);
Parameter Description
array Required. Specifies the array.
mode

Optional. Specifies the mode. Possible values:

  • 0 - Default. Do not count all elements in multidimensional arrays
  • 1 - Recursively count the number of elements in the array (count all elements in multidimensional arrays)

Description

The count() function calculates the number of units in the array or the number of properties in the object.

For arrays, returns the number of elements, for other values, returns 1. If the parameter is a variable and the variable is not defined, it returns 0.

If mode If set to COUNT_RECURSIVE (or 1), it will recursively calculate the number of elements in the arrays of multidimensional arrays.

Technical Details

Return Value: Returns the number of elements in the array.
PHP Version: 4+
Update Log: mode The parameter was added in PHP 4.2.

More Examples

Example 1

Recursively count the array:

<?php
$cars=array
  (
  "Volvo"=>array
  (
  "XC60",
  "XC90"
  ),
  "BMW"=>array
  (
  "X3",
  "X5"
  ),
  "Toyota"=>array
  (
  "Highlander"
  )
  );
echo "Normal Count: " . count($cars)."<br>";
echo "Recursive Count: " . count($cars,1);
?>

Run Instance

PHP Array Functions