find the maximum value in a series of nested arrays

max_values.php

<?php


function findMaxValues (array $values) :int
{
	
    if(!is_array($values)) return "not an array";
	
    $max_val = 0;
	
    foreach($values as $item){
		
        if(is_array($item)){
			
            $check_highest_val = findMaxValues($item);
			
        }else{
			
            $check_highest_val = $item;
        }
		
        $max_val  = $check_highest_val > $max_val ? $check_highest_val : $max_val;
    }
	
    return $max_val;
 }


print_r(findMaxValues([1, [2, 3, [8, 19]]])); // 19