accessing associative array depths

[MK27]

Hi.  I'm brand new to php but have lots of experience with other similar interpreted languages.

 

I'm trying to take apart some JSON output from a semantic mediawiki.  So I have an associative array created with json_decode, and to view it (nb, several times in different ways):

<pre>
<?php 
print_r($json);
foreach ($json['items'] as $items) {
foreach ($items as $entry) {
	print_r($entry);
	print "<p>-->".$entry['shortdesc']."<--</p>"; 
}
}
?>
</pre>     

 

Now here's sample of the print_r("$json") output:

 

Array
(
    [properties] => Array
        (
            [shortdesc] => Array
                (
                    [valueType] => text
                )

        )

    [items] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [label] => Bingo-cards
                    [shortdesc] => Creates number, word/letter, and picture bingo cards
                    [uri] => http://localhost/wiki/index.php?title=Bingo-cards
                 )

            [1] => Array
                (
                    [label] => Claroline
                    [shortdesc] => Online learning system
                    [uri] => http://localhost/wiki/index.php?title=Claroline
                 )
          )
  )

 

So what I see here is that the $json array has two members, "properties" and "items".  "Items" is an array of associative arrays, right? (With members "label", "uri", and "shortdesc".)  But the output from this part of that code:

foreach ($items as $entry) {
	print_r($entry);
	print "<p>-->".$entry['shortdesc']."<--</p>"; 
}

Does this:

Bingo-cards
-->B<--
Creates number, word/letter, and picture bingo cards
-->C<--
http://localhost/wiki/index.php?title=Bingo-cards
-->h<--
Claroline
-->C<--
Online learning system
-->O<--
http://localhost/wiki/index.php?title=Claroline
-->h<--

See what's happening?  The "items" array is printing as if it were a non-associative, 1D array with the "label", "uri", and "shortdesc" lines alternating.  The the "shortdesc" for that is evidentally it's first letter?!!???

 

I suppose I can still iterate thru this and do what I want, but (being brand new to php) I cannot get these two forms of output to jibe in my mind.  Why does each element of "items" appear to be an associative array, and then it isn't?  Nb. this:

print $json['items'][0]['shortdesc'];

Does print the shortdesc but again:

foreach ($json['items'] as $items) {
foreach ($items as $entry) {
	print "<p>-->".$entry['shortdesc']."<--</p>"; 
}
}     

Does not.  Like, WTF?

 

[MK27]

Sheesh.  Sometimes I'd swear I just can't see straight.

 

Anyway found my silly error...