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When should I use end() and when should I use array_pop()?

M66 2025-05-18

In PHP, end() and array_pop() are both functions commonly used to manipulate arrays, especially when processing the end elements of an array. Although they have similar functions, their specific behavior and purpose are different. This article will explain in detail the differences between the two functions and discuss which one should be used under what circumstances.

end() function

The end() function is used to move the internal pointer of the array to the last element of the array and return the value of this element. Importantly, end() does not change the structure of the original array, it only changes the pointer position of the array. You can still access other elements in the array and it does not remove elements of the array.

Sample code using end() :

 <?php
$array = array(1, 2, 3, 4, 5);
$lastElement = end($array);
echo $lastElement;  // Output 5
?>

In this example, end($array) points the pointer to the array to the last element and returns that element. The array itself has not been modified and still contains all elements.

It should be noted that end() modifys the internal pointer of the array, which means that if you traverse the array again after calling end() , the position of the pointer may affect the traversal result.

array_pop() function

Unlike end() , the array_pop() function not only returns the last element of the array, but also removes the element from the array. In other words, array_pop() will change the structure of the array and reduce the length of the array by one.

Sample code using array_pop() :

 <?php
$array = array(1, 2, 3, 4, 5);
$lastElement = array_pop($array);
echo $lastElement;  // Output 5
print_r($array);    // Output Array ( [0] => 1 [1] => 2 [2] => 3 [3] => 4 )
?>

In this example, array_pop($array) not only returns the last element of the array ( 5 ), but also removes that element from the array. So when printing $array , we can see that the length of the array is reduced.

The main differences between end() and array_pop()

  1. Differences in behavior :

    • end() returns only the last element of the array and does not modify the array itself.

    • array_pop() returns the last element of the array and removes the element from the array.

  2. Applicable scenarios :

    • Use end() when you only need to view the last element of the array but don't want to modify the structure of the array.

    • When you need to remove the last element from the array, use array_pop() .

When to use end() and when to use array_pop() ?

  • Use end() :

    • When you only need to access the elements at the end of the array and do not want any modifications to the array itself.

    • Suitable for situations where you want to access the last element first but keep the array structure when you need to do an array traversal.

    Example:

     <?php
$array = array(1, 2, 3, 4, 5);
$lastElement = end($array);
// Here you can continue to manipulate other array elements
?>

  • Use array_pop() :

    • Applicable to stack data structure operations (for example, processing of FIFO or LIFO queues) when you need to remove from the array and return the last element.

    • Suitable for reducing array length, such as gradually removing elements from the array when processing data.

    Example:

     <?php
$array = array(1, 2, 3, 4, 5);
$poppedElement = array_pop($array);
// at this time $array The array length has been reduced
?>
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