# array_diff

(PHP 4 >= 4.0.1, PHP 5, PHP 7)

array_diff — Computes the difference of arrays

### Description

array_diff ( array `$array` , array `...$arrays` ) : array

Compares `array` against one or more other arrays and returns the values in `array` that are not present in any of the other arrays.

### Parameters

`array`

  The array to compare from

`arrays`

  Arrays to compare against

### Return Values

Returns an array containing all the entries from `array` that are not present in any of the other arrays. Keys in the `array` array are preserved.

### Examples

Example #1 array_diff() example

`<?php
$array1 = array("a" => "green", "red", "blue", "red");
$array2 = array("b" => "green", "yellow", "red");
$result = array_diff($array1, $array2);
print_r($result);
?>`

Multiple occurrences in $array1 are all treated the same way. This will output :

    Array
    (
        [1] => blue
    )

Example #2 array_diff() example with non-matching types

Two elements are considered equal if and only if `(string) $elem1 === (string) $elem2`. That is, when the string representation is the same.

`<?php
// This will generate a Notice that an array cannot be cast to a string.
$source = [1, 2, 3, 4];
$filter = [3, 4, [5], 6];
$result = array_diff($source, $filter);
// Whereas this is fine, since the objects can cast to a string.
class S {
private $v;
public function __construct(string $v) {
$this->v = $v;
}
public function __toString() {
return $this->v;
}
}
$source = [new S('a'), new S('b'), new S('c')];
$filter = [new S('b'), new S('c'), new S('d')];
$result = array_diff($source, $filter);
// $result now contains one instance of S('a');
?>`

To use an alternate comparison function, see array_udiff().

### Notes

> Note:

> This function only checks one dimension of a n-dimensional array. Of course you can check deeper dimensions by using `array_diff($array1[0], $array2[0]);`.

### See Also

- array_diff_assoc() - Computes the difference of arrays with additional index check
- array_udiff() - Computes the difference of arrays by using a callback function for data comparison
- array_intersect() - Computes the intersection of arrays
- array_intersect_assoc() - Computes the intersection of arrays with additional index check