Split a string by string and put into an associative array.

explode_to_assoc.php

<?php

/**
 * Explode the strings delimited with a given string/character
 * into an associative array.
 *
 * Function alters $new_array associative array passed to the function
 * by reference. This array should contain keys and values. Example.:
 * $new_array = array(
 *   'bananas' => '',
 *   'strawberries' => '',
 *   'water mellons' => ''
 * );
 *
 * For a given $string = 'are yellow|are red|are green|are black' and $delimiter = '|'
 * we will get $new_array:
 *   [bananas] => 'are yellow',
 *   [strawberries] => 'are red',
 *   [water mellons] => 'are green',
 *   [3] => 'are black'
 *
 * @param  string $delimiter Delimiter.
 * @param  string $string    Source string.
 * @param  array  $new_array Assiciative array.
 * @return void.
 */
function explodeToAssoc($delimiter, $string, &$new_array) 
{
  $array = explode($delimiter, $string);
  $nkeys = array_keys($new_array);
  array_walk($array, function($value, $key, $nkeys) use(&$new_array) {
    if (isset($new_array[$nkeys[$key]])) {
      $new_array[$nkeys[$key]] = $value;
    } else {
      $new_array[$key] = $value;
    }
  }, $nkeys);
}