New Array Find Functions in PHP 8.4

Four new array functions are likely coming to PHP 8.4 that are still in the RFC voting stage. We're encouraged that the voting is already 100% "yes" votes thus far, with voting ending May 29, 2024. While the RFC acceptance of these functions is pending, it seems likely that these functions are coming to PHP 8.4:

• array_find()
• array_find_key()
• array_any()
• array_all()

The array_find() Function

The array_find($array, $callback) function returns the first element for which the $callback returns true:

$array = [
    'a' => 'dog',
    'b' => 'cat',
    'c' => 'cow',
    'd' => 'duck',
    'e' => 'goose',
    'f' => 'elephant'
];
 
array_find($array, function (string $value) {
    return strlen($value) > 4;
}); // string(5) "goose"
 
array_find($array, function (string $value) {
    return str_starts_with($value, 'f');
}); // null
 
// Find the first animal where the array key is the first symbol of the animal.
array_find($array, function (string $value, $key) {
   return $value[0] === $key;
});        

Using Laravel's Arr or Collection you can get equivalent functionality with the first() method in combination with a closure:

use Illuminate\Support\Arr;
use Illuminate\Support\Collection;
 
$array = [
    'a' => 'dog',
    'b' => 'cat',
    'c' => 'cow',
    'd' => 'duck',
    'e' => 'goose',
    'f' => 'elephant'
];
 
new Collection($array)
    ->first(fn ($value) => strlen($value) > 4); // goose
 
Arr::first(
    $array,
    fn ($value) => str_starts_with($value, 'f')
); // null
 
new Collection($array)
    ->first(fn ($value, $key) => $value[0] === $key); // cow        

#The array_find_key() Function

The array_find_key($array, $callback) function returns the key of the first element for which the $callback returns true. Like array_find(), it returns null if no matching element is found:

$array = [
    'a' => 'dog',
    'b' => 'cat',
    'c' => 'cow',
    'd' => 'duck',
    'e' => 'goose',
    'f' => 'elephant'
];
 
array_find_key($array, function (string $value) {
    return strlen($value) > 4;
}); // string(1) "e"
 
array_find_key($array, function (string $value) {
    return str_starts_with($value, 'f');
}); // null
 
array_find_key($array, function (string $value, $key) {
   return $value[0] === $key;
}); // string(1) "c"        

The RFC implementation for this function looks like the following:

function array_find_key(array $array, callable $callback): mixed {
    foreach ($array as $key => $value) {
        if ($callback($value, $key)) {
            return $key;
        }
    }
 
    return null;
}        

Using Laravel's Collection, you can get functionality similar to the search() method in combination with a closure. However, search() returns false if the item is not found, not null:

use Illuminate\Support\Arr;
use Illuminate\Support\Collection;
 
new Collection($array)->search(function (string $value) {
    return strlen($value) > 4;
}); // string(1) "e"
 
new Collection($array)->search(function (string $value) {
    return str_starts_with($value, 'f');
}); // false
 
new Collection($array)->search(function (string $value, $key) {
   return $value[0] === $key;
}); // string(1) "c"        

The array_any() and array_all() Functions

The second part of the RFC (and a separate 2/3 vote) includes the array_any() and array_all() functions. You can use these functions if any of the items in array return true for array_any() and if all of the items in an array return true for array_all(), respectively.

$array = [
    'a' => 'dog',
    'b' => 'cat',
    'c' => 'cow',
    'd' => 'duck',
    'e' => 'goose',
    'f' => 'elephant'
];
 
// Check, if any animal name is longer than 5 letters.
array_any($array, function (string $value) {
    return strlen($value) > 5;
}); // bool(true)
 
// Check, if any animal name is shorter than 3 letters.
array_any($array, function (string $value) {
    return strlen($value) < 3;
}); // bool(false)
 
// Check, if all animal names are shorter than 12 letters.
array_all($array, function (string $value) {
    return strlen($value) < 12;
}); // bool(true)
 
// Check, if all animal names are longer than 5 letters.
array_all($array, function (string $value) {
    return strlen($value) > 5;
}); // bool(false)