PHP Tutorial - PHP next() Function

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Definition

The next() function moves the internal pointer to, and outputs, the next element in the array.

Syntax

PHP next() Function has the following syntax.

Parameter

Note

The next() and prev() functions move the cursor pointer forward or backward one element respectively, returning the value of the element now pointed to.

If cannot return a value, it will return false.

Related methods

• prev() - moves the pointer to, and outputs, the previous element in the array
• current() - returns the value of the current element in an array
• end() - moves the pointer to, and outputs, the last element in the array
• reset() - moves the pointer to the first element of the array
• each() - returns the current element key and value, and moves the pointer forward

Example 1

Using prev() and next() is more difficult when using arrays that have holes. For example:

<?PHP/*from  ww  w . ja v a2  s . c  o  m*/
$array["a"] = "Foo"; 
$array["b"] = ""; 
$array["c"] = "Baz"; 
$array["d"] = "Wom"; 
print end($array); 

while($val = prev($array)) { 
   print $val; 
} 
?>

The empty value at key b causes both prev() and next() to return false, prematurely ending the loop.

The code above generates the following result.

Example 2

Output the value of the current and the next element in the array:

<?php
$people = array("A", "B", "C", "D");

echo current($people) . "\n";
echo next($people);
?>

The code above generates the following result.

Example 3

A demonstration of all related methods:

<?php//from  ww  w .  j  a v a 2 s. c  o m
$people = array("A", "B", "C", "D");

echo current($people) . "\n"; // The current element is A
echo next($people) . "\n"; // The next element of A is B
echo current($people) . "\n"; // Now the current element is B
echo prev($people) . "\n"; // The previous element of B is A
echo end($people) . "\n"; // The last element is D
echo prev($people) . "\n"; // The previous element of D is C
echo current($people) . "\n"; // Now the current element is C
echo reset($people) . "\n"; // Moves the internal pointer to the first element of the array, which is A
echo next($people) . "\n"; // The next element of A is B

print_r (each($people)); // Returns the key and value of the current element (now B), and moves the internal pointer forward
?>

The code above generates the following result.

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