Having an array that everyone uses

[cliftonbazaar]

I wish to have an array that EVERYONE uses (I have thought of other methods but this seems to be the best).

 

At the moment I have a setup page for every user so that when they start to play the array is set up

//We have a new play session so let's set up this particular array
$building_array= array("castle", "storage", "barracks", "hospital", "tower", "inn");  //This is just a small part of the array, it is a lot bigger 

 

then I realised that this array rarely changes (and when it does it is the same for everyone).  So every user has this array in memory(?), is there a way of coding an array so that every one uses it but takes up a lot less memory?

[MadTechie]

whats wrong with it as it stands ?

if you need the array then your need it, but is it needed on everypage ?

[cliftonbazaar]

The problem is that every user has their own copy even though they are all excactly the same, surely this would take up extra server processes?

[Ken2k7]

What do you mean every user has their own copy? Are you creating a new file with that array for each user? Why not utilize include or require?

[alphanumetrix]

Are you running your site through an index (single file)?

 

If so, just put the array in your main script, and all your files can have access to it.

 

If you mean that you are creating an array for every user, a good idea would be to create a multi-dimensional array instead.

 

IE of multi-dimensional array:

$building_array = array(

'user1' => array('castle', 'storage', 'barracks', 'hospital', 'tower', 'inn'),
'user2' => array(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

);

 

You can then access the data like this:

 

echo $building_array['user1'][0]; // will display "castle"

echo $building_array['user2'][0]; // will display "1"

 

You can make the arrays more detailed by changing it like so:

 

$building_array = array(

'user1' => array( 'castle' => 'some castle name', 'storage' => 'some storage name' )

);


echo $building_array['user1']['castle']; // will display "some castle name"

 

[cliftonbazaar]

What do you mean every user has their own copy? Are you creating a new file with that array for each user? Why not utilize include or require?

Reading up on them now.