This function allows you to dive into an array and provide a fallback value in case the element you want does not exist.

gistfile1.php

<?php

function array_element($array, $key, $default = false)
{
	$key = explode('.', $key);
	if(count($key) > 1)
	{
		if ( ! is_array($array) || ! array_key_exists($key[0], $array))
		{
			return $default;
		}
		$array = $array[$key[0]];
		unset($key[0]);
		$key = implode('.', $key);
		$array = array_element($array, $key, $default);
		return $array;
	}
	else
	{
		$key = $key[0];
		if ( ! is_array($array) || ! array_key_exists($key, $array))
		{
			return $default;
		}
		return $array[$key];
	}
}