PHP 8 reference · Array Functions

PHP array_shift() Function

Remove the first element of an array and return it. Numeric keys are renumbered from 0; string keys stay.

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Syntax

array_shift(array &$array): mixed

Parameter	Description
`array`	The array (changed in place).

The removed value, or null if empty.

Take from the frontTry it yourself

<?php
$queue = ["first", "second", "third"];
echo array_shift($queue), "\n";
print_r($queue);

Output

first
Array
(
    [0] => second
    [1] => third
)

Drop the script nameTry it yourself

<?php
$args = ["script.php", "--verbose", "file.txt"];
$script = array_shift($args);
echo "$script got ", count($args), " arguments\n";

Output

script.php got 2 arguments

Version	Change
PHP 4.0	Added

array_unshift() · Add one or more elements to the start of an array and return its new length. Numeric keys are renumbered.
array_pop() · Remove the last element of an array and return it. Returns null if the array is empty.
array_slice() · Return a portion of an array without changing the original, given an offset and an optional length.
PHP Arrays · tutorial
PHP Array Functions · tutorial