1.2.1107. Should Use Foreach

Use the foreach loop instead of for when traversing an array.

Foreach() is the modern loop : it maps automatically every element of the array to a blind variable, and iterate. This is faster and safer.

<?php

// Foreach version
foreach($array as $element) {
    doSomething($element);
}

// The above case may even be upgraded with array_map and a callback,
// for the simplest one of them
$array = array_map('doSomething', $array);

// For version (one of various alternatives)
for($i = 0; $i < count($array); $i++) {
    $element = $array[$i];
    doSomething($element);
}

// Based on array_pop or array_shift()
while($value = array_pop($array)) {
    doSomething($array);
}

?>

See also foreach and 5 Ways To Loop Through An Array In PHP.

1.2.1107.1. Suggestions

• Move for() loops to foreach(), whenever they apply to a finite list of elements

1.2.1107.2. Specs

Short name	Structures/ShouldUseForeach
Rulesets	All, Suggestions
Exakat since	0.12.7
PHP Version	All
Severity	Minor
Time To Fix	Instant (5 mins)
Precision	Very high
Features	foreach, for
Examples	ExpressionEngine, Woocommerce
Available in	Entreprise Edition, Exakat Cloud