php man page for array_replace_recursive

ARRAY_REPLACE_RECURSIVE(3)						 1						ARRAY_REPLACE_RECURSIVE(3)

array_replace_recursive - Replaces elements from passed arrays into the first array recursively

SYNOPSIS
       array array_replace_recursive (array  $array1, array  $array2, [array  $...])

DESCRIPTION
       array_replace_recursive(3) replaces the values of $array1 with the same values from all the following arrays. If a key from the first array
       exists in the second array, its value will be replaced by the value from the second array. If the key exists in the second array,  and  not
       the  first,  it	will  be created in the first array. If a key only exists in the first array, it will be left as is. If several arrays are
       passed for replacement, they will be processed in order, the later array overwriting the previous values.

       array_replace_recursive(3) is recursive : it will recurse into arrays and apply the same process to the inner value.

	When the value in $array1 is scalar, it will be replaced by the value in $array2, may it be scalar or array. When the value in $array1 and
       $array2 are both arrays, array_replace_recursive(3) will replace their respective value recursively.

PARAMETERS
	      o $array1
		- The array in which elements are replaced.

	      o $array2
		- The array from which elements will be extracted.

	      o $...
		- Optional. More arrays from which elements will be extracted.

RETURN VALUES
	Returns an array, or NULL if an error occurs.

EXAMPLES
       Example #1

	      array_replace_recursive(3) example

	      <?php
	      $base = array('citrus' => array( "orange") , 'berries' => array("blackberry", "raspberry"), );
	      $replacements = array('citrus' => array('pineapple'), 'berries' => array('blueberry'));

	      $basket = array_replace_recursive($base, $replacements);
	      print_r($basket);

	      $basket = array_replace($base, $replacements);
	      print_r($basket);
	      ?>

	      The above example will output:

	      Array
	      (
		  [citrus] => Array
		      (
			  [0] => pineapple
		      )

		  [berries] => Array
		      (
			  [0] => blueberry
			  [1] => raspberry
		      )

	      )
	      Array
	      (
		  [citrus] => Array
		      (
			  [0] => pineapple
		      )

		  [berries] => Array
		      (
			  [0] => blueberry
		      )

	      )

       Example #2

	      array_replace_recursive(3) and recursive behavior

	      <?php
	      $base = array('citrus' => array("orange") , 'berries' => array("blackberry", "raspberry"), 'others' => 'banana' );
	      $replacements = array('citrus' => 'pineapple', 'berries' => array('blueberry'), 'others' => array('litchis'));
	      $replacements2 = array('citrus' => array('pineapple'), 'berries' => array('blueberry'), 'others' => 'litchis');

	      $basket = array_replace_recursive($base, $replacements, $replacements2);
	      print_r($basket);

	      ?>

	      The above example will output:

	      Array
	      (
		  [citrus] => Array
		      (
			  [0] => pineapple
		      )

		  [berries] => Array
		      (
			  [0] => blueberry
			  [1] => raspberry
		      )

		  [others] => litchis
	      )

SEE ALSO
       array_replace(3), array_merge_recursive(3).

PHP Documentation Group 												ARRAY_REPLACE_RECURSIVE(3)