Getting array data in variable

[phppup]

I'm trying to include an array inside of a different array, but having trouble reaching the data.

$ingredients = ["sugar", "flour", "water"];
$spec_recipe = ["apple", "cinnamon", $ingredients];

echo $spec_recipe[2];
RESULT:  Array
echo $spec_recipe[2][0];
RESULT:  A  (assuming first letter of Array)

How do I move this info correctly so that it's accessible?

Edited January 27 by phppup
Forgot item

[gw1500se]

Not sure how you want it but you can use array_merge.

$ingredients = ["sugar", "flour", "water"];
$spec_recipe = array_merge(["apple", "cinnamon"], $ingredients);

 

[phppup]

@gw1500se No luck.

In not sure if it matters that this variable is stuck into a sub array.

This started out working well with single words or phrases. But when I incorporated an array to provide those words and phrases, it went bonkers.

I felt that the array structure was getting cluttered and that variables would help organize it. Was I wrong?

[mac_gyver]

your example works as expected for me.

what php version are you using?

what does using -

echo '<pre>'; print_r($spec_recipe); echo '</pre>';

show for the data?

[phppup]

@mac_gyver Save as my initial info in this question.

Both direct access efforts and print_r:

[6] => Array

The data is not getting pulled by the variable, yet it knows there's an array present.

Not sure if exact version, but current.

Edited January 27 by phppup
Forgot item

[phppup]

** Recent development **

I modified my approach and got a response

//At first

$ingredients = ["sugar", "flour", "water"];
$spec_recipe = ["apple", "cinnamon", $ingredients];

echo $spec_recipe[2];
RESULT:  Array
echo $spec_recipe[2][0];
RESULT:  A  (assuming first letter of Array)

Now I altered the variable to specify an element

$ingredients = ["sugar", "flour", "water"];
$spec_recipe = ["apple", "cinnamon", $ingredients[0] ];
echo $spec_recipe[2];
RESULT:  sugar

I suppose this is something, but I want the array to become available through this variable so that I can address the full array contents.

What am I missing?

[phppup]

Used the suggested tools and discovered my problem.

The array variable was inside a string. Apparrently this negates the array tendencies once they are lost.