Add Additional Objects to JSON Encoded Array

Question

Hi,

I am currently using a JSON encoded array to display the users in my database for an auto-suggest feature.

It looks something like this:

$sth = mysql_query("SELECT id, name FROM users");

$json = array();

    while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($sth)) {
        $json['name'] = $row['name'];
        $json['id'] = $row['id'];
        $data[] = $json;
    }

print json_encode($data);

This returns:

[{"id":"81","name":"John Doe"},{"id":"82","name":"Jane Doe"}]

My question is somewhat 2-fold:

First, how would I manually add an additional object to this output? For example, let's say I wanted to add: {"id":"444","name":"A New Name"}

Thus, it'd look like:

[{"id":"81","name":"John Doe"},{"id":"82","name":"Jane Doe"},{"id":"444","name":"A New Name"}]

Second, let's say I also wanted to add more objects to the array from a separate table as well, such as:

$sth = mysql_query("SELECT id, title FROM another_table");

$json = array();

    while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($sth)) {
        $json['name'] = $row['title'];
        $json['id'] = $row['id'];
        $data[] = $json;
    }

print json_encode($data);

This way I could have both tables populated in the JSON array, thus, showing up as additional options in my autosuggest.

Hopefully this makes sense, as I've tried hard to articulate what I am trying to accomplish.

Thanks!

Answer 1

You could edit the JSON (text), but it's much easier to modify the array before you encode it. Or am I missing something?

Answer 2

Just keep pushing to the $data array.

$json = array();

    while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($sth)) {
        $json['name'] = $row['name'];
        $json['id'] = $row['id'];
        $data[] = $json;
    }

$custom = array('name'=>'foo', 'id' => 'bar');
$data[] = $custom;

Then at the very end, do your json_encode. Assuming you're not referring to merging it in the JS itself with multiple ajax calls.

And if you have separate scripts, combine them in one php page.

Answer 3

I'm not an expert in any of these fields, but I'll try and see if I can help. Try one of these:

Option 1 (I don't know how unions work in mysql):

$sth = mysql_query("SELECT id, name FROM users union SELECT id, name FROM (SELECT id, title as name from another_table) as T2"); 


    $json = array(); 

        while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($sth)) { 
            $json['name'] = $row['name']; 
            $json['id'] = $row['id']; 
        }

    $json['name'] = 'A new name';
    $json['id'] = '444';
    $data[] = $json; 

    print json_encode($data);

I've never done PHP, so I'm making assumptions. I've also never used MySql, so there's more assumptions.

Option 2:

$sth = mysql_query("SELECT id, name FROM users"); 


    $json = array(); 

        while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($sth)) { 
            $json['name'] = $row['name']; 
            $json['id'] = $row['id']; 
        }

$sth = mysql_query("SELECT id, title from another_table"); 


        while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($sth)) { 
            $json['name'] = $row['title']; 
            $json['id'] = $row['id']; 
        }

    $json['name'] = 'A new name';
    $json['id'] = '444';
    $data[] = $json; 

    print json_encode($data);

Hope this helps.