Is $array[] Really Faster Than array_push() in PHP?

Comparing the Speed of $array[] and array_push() in PHP

When it comes to appending elements to an array in PHP, there are two common approaches: using $array[] or array_push(). While the PHP manual recommends avoiding functions for performance reasons, certain arguments suggest that $array[] is slower than array_push(). To clarify this issue, let's delve into the debate with some benchmarks.

Benchmark Results

To determine the speed difference between these two methods, the following code was executed:

<code class="php">$t = microtime(true);
$array = array();
for($i = 0; $i < 10000; $i++) {
    $array[] = $i;
}
print microtime(true) - $t;
print '<br>';
$t = microtime(true);
$array = array();
for($i = 0; $i < 10000; $i++) {
    array_push($array, $i);
}
print microtime(true) - $t;</code>

The results consistently showed that $array[] is approximately 50% faster than array_push().

PHP Manual Insight

The PHP manual explains that using $array[] avoids the overhead of calling a function for single element additions. Surprisingly, even when adding multiple elements, individual $array[] calls proved to be faster than a single array_push() call.

Conclusion

Contrary to some arguments, $array[] is demonstrably faster than array_push() for both single and multiple element additions. While both methods are suitable for different scenarios, $array[] should be considered when speed is a priority.

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