Introduction:

Converting arrays to CSV (Comma-Separated Values) format is a common task in web development. CSV is a widely-used file format for storing and exchanging data between different systems. PHP, being a versatile scripting language, offers several efficient methods to accomplish this. In this blog post, we will explore multiple techniques for converting arrays to CSV files in PHP. 

Method 1: Utilizing the fputcsv() Function

The fputcsv() function in PHP is a built-in function specifically designed for writing arrays to CSV files. It automatically handles the formatting and escaping of values, making the conversion process straightforward. Let's take a look at an example program that demonstrates the usage of fputcsv() to convert an array to a CSV file:

<?php
$array = [
    ['John', 'Doe', '[email protected]'],
    ['Jane', 'Smith', '[email protected]'],
    ['Bob', 'Johnson', '[email protected]'],
];

$fp = fopen('output.csv', 'w');
foreach ($array as $row) {
    fputcsv($fp, $row);
}
fclose($fp);
?>

Output (output.csv):

John,Doe,[email protected]
Jane,Smith,[email protected]
Bob,Johnson,[email protected]

Method 2: Manual CSV Formatting

An alternative approach is to manually format the array and write it to a CSV file. This method provides greater control over the CSV generation process, albeit requiring more code. Here's an example program that demonstrates how to manually convert an array to a CSV file:

<?php
$array = [
    ['John', 'Doe', '[email protected]'],
    ['Jane', 'Smith', '[email protected]'],
    ['Bob', 'Johnson', '[email protected]'],
];

$fp = fopen('output.csv', 'w');
foreach ($array as $row) {
    fputcsv($fp, $row, ',', '"');
}
fclose($fp);
?>

Output (output.csv):

John,Doe,[email protected]
Jane,Smith,[email protected]
Bob,Johnson,[email protected]

Method 3: Using the League\Csv Library

The League\Csv library is a powerful and feature-rich package that simplifies working with CSV data in PHP. It provides a convenient API for reading and writing CSV files, making it an excellent choice for array to CSV conversions. To use the library, first install it via Composer:

composer require league/csv

Here's an example program that demonstrates how to utilize the League\Csv library to convert an array to a CSV file:

<?php
require 'vendor/autoload.php';

use League\Csv\Writer;

$array = [
    ['John', 'Doe', '[email protected]'],
    ['Jane', 'Smith', '[email protected]'],
    ['Bob', 'Johnson', '[email protected]'],
];

$csv = Writer::createFromPath('output.csv', 'w');
$csv->insertAll($array);
$csv->output();
?>

Output (output.csv):

John,Doe,[email protected]
Jane,Smith,[email protected]
Bob,Johnson,[email protected]

Conclusion:

Converting arrays to CSV in PHP can be achieved using various methods. In this blog post, we explored three approaches: utilizing the fputcsv() function, manual CSV formatting, and using the League\Csv library. The fputcsv() function is a simple and efficient solution, while manual formatting provides greater control. The League\Csv library offers advanced features for working with CSV files.