How to Insert an Element into an Associative Array at a Specific Position?

array_splice() Alternative for Associative Arrays

When working with associative arrays, inserting or deleting elements while maintaining the key-value structure can be a challenge. While the array_splice() function effectively manipulates numeric arrays, it lacks the capability to handle associative arrays. This article addresses the need for an alternative solution to insert an element into an associative array at a specific position, preserving the existing keys.

To achieve this, a custom approach is required. The provided solution involves slicing the associative array into two parts at the desired insertion point (offset). By adding the new element to the sliced array and recombining the sections, we effectively insert the element while maintaining the original key-value order. Here's the solution in code:

# Insert at offset 2
$offset = 2;
$newArray = array_slice($oldArray, 0, $offset, true) +
            array('texture' => 'bumpy') +
            array_slice($oldArray, $offset, NULL, true);

This approach ensures that the associative array is modified as intended, preserving the key-value structure and inserting the new element at the desired position.

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