PHP IN_ARRAY Function: How To Find a Value in an Array

The PHP IN_ARRAY function is a function used to determine whether a given value is within an array. It returns true if the value is found; it returns false if the value isn’t found. While it does seem to be a simple function, it’s actually very useful. 

Let’s take a deeper look at the IN_ARRAY function, when it returns true or false, and why you might need a function that checks for a value in an array.

The syntax and usage of the PHP IN_ARRAY function

The PHP IN_ARRAY function begins with the following syntax:

in_array($needle, $haystack, $strict);

In the above example, the variables are as follows:

• $needle: the value that is being searched for.
• $haystack: the array that is being searched.
• $strict: if it’s a strict type.

$strict bears some explanation. Strict typing refers to whether the value is an int, string, etc. If the “strict” is set to true, then a string “1” won’t match with an int “1.” If the strict is not true, then they will match. 

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