Pick the first element (key, value) of an associative array (i. e. using keys of type string) in PHP. Helpful when you didn't know the key to get the value.

<?php
/**PHP holds a wide variety of ways to get the key-value pair of
 * array items. They are shown down below.
 * This list is not intended to be exhaustive.
 */
// The sample array
$array = array( "foo" => "bar", "b" => "baz", "c" => false, "d" => 31337 );

/*******************************************************************
 * EITHER ...
 *******************************************************************/
// Reset internal pointer to the beginning and gain the value
$value = reset( $array );

// Get key
$key = key( $array );

// Another way to get the value when the pointer is at the beginning
$value = current( $array );

/*******************************************************************
 * OR ...
 *******************************************************************/
// Slice array's first element
$first = array_slice( $array, 0, 1, true );

// Get key ...
$key = key( $first );

// ... and value
$value = current( $first );

/*******************************************************************
 * AND ALSO ...
 *******************************************************************/
// Get key ...
$key = array_shift( array_keys( $array ));

// ... and value
$value = array_shift( array_values( $array ));

/*******************************************************************
 * AND NOT TO FORGET THE MOST COMMON ...
 *******************************************************************/
// Get key ...
$keys = array_keys( $array );
$key = $keys[0];
// PHP >= 5.5 shorthand
$key = array_keys( $array )[0];

// ... and value
$values = array_values( $array );
$value = $values[0];
// PHP >= 5.5 shorthand
$value = array_values( $array )[0];

/*******************************************************************
 * AND OF COURSE ...
 *******************************************************************/
$key = $value = ''; // Not really required (in PHP)
// Get key and value concurrently
foreach( $array as $key => $value )
  break;  // We already have what we want

/*******************************************************************
 * AND YET ANOTHER WAY ...
 *******************************************************************/
// If interal pointer is not at the beginning, reset() it beforehand
// then get key and value concurrently
list( $key, $value ) = each( $array );

/*******************************************************************
 * If you need the value of the first element only and have an array
 * with NUMERIC index there is - you know it - one more way to go
 *******************************************************************/
list( $value ) = $array; // works with NUMERIC indexes only
?>
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Date posted:	Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:18:00 +0000
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Description:	Pick the first element (key, value) of an associative array (i. e. using keys of type string) in PHP. Helpful when you didn't know the key to get the value.