max

(PHP 4, PHP 5, PHP 7, PHP 8)

maxBestimmt den Maximalwert

Beschreibung

max(mixed $value, mixed ...$values): mixed

Alternative Signatur (benannte Parameter werden nicht unterstützt):

max(array $value_array): mixed

Ist der erste und einzige Parameter ein Array, gibt max() den größten Wert dieses Arrays zurück. Werden mindestens zwei Parameter übergeben, gibt max() den größeren dieser Werte zurück.

Hinweis:

Werte unterschiedlichen Typs werden unter Verwendung der Standard-Vergleichsregeln verglichen. Zum Beispiel wird ein nichtnumerischer string mit einem int verglichen, als ob er 0 wäre, aber mehrere nichtnumerische string-Werte werden alphanumerisch verglichen. Der tatsächlich zurückgegebene Wert ist vom ursprünglichen Typ ohne angewandte Umwandlung.

Achtung

Vorsicht ist geboten, wenn Argumente verschiedenen Typs übergeben werden, da max() in diesem Fall unvorhersehbare Ergebnisse liefert.

Parameter-Liste

value

Ein vergleichbarer Wert.

values

Jegliche vergleichbaren Werte.

value_array

Ein Array, das Werte enthält.

Rückgabewerte

max() gibt den gemäß den Standard-Vergleichen als "größten" angesehenen Parameter-Wert zurück. Evaluieren mehrere Werte unterschiedlichen Typs als gleich (z. B. 0 und 'abc'), wird der zuerst übergebene zurückgegeben.

Fehler/Exceptions

Wird ein leeres Array übergeben, löst max() einen ValueError aus.

Changelog

Version Beschreibung
8.0.0 max() löst bei einem Fehler nun einen ValueError aus; vorher wurde false zurückgegeben und ein Fehler der Stufe E_WARNING ausgegeben.
8.0.0 Die Art und Weise, wie Zeichenketten und Zahlen verglichen werden, wurde geändert, sodass max() in solchen Fällen nicht mehr je nach Reihenfolge der Argumente unterschiedliche Werte zurückgibt.

Beispiele

Beispiel #1 Beispiel für die Verwendung von max()

<?php
echo max(2, 3, 1, 6, 7); // 7
echo max(array(2, 4, 5)); // 5

// Hier vergleichen wir -1 < 0, sodass 'hallo' der größte Wert ist
echo max('hallo', -1); // hallo

// Bei mehreren Arrays unterschiedlicher Länge, gibt max das längste zurück
$val = max(array(2, 2, 2), array(1, 1, 1, 1)); // array(1, 1, 1, 1)

// Mehrere Arrays gleicher Länge werden von links nach rechts verglichen,
// daher ist in unserem Beispiel 2 == 2, aber 5 > 4
$val = max(array(2, 4, 8), array(2, 5, 1)); // array(2, 5, 1)

// Sind ein Array und ein Nicht-Array-Parameter gegeben, wird das Array zurückgegeben,
// da Vergleiche Arrays als größer behandeln als alle anderen Werte
$val = max('string', array(2, 5, 7), 42); // array(2, 5, 7)

// Ist ein Argument NULL oder ein boolescher Wert, wird es mit anderen Werten
// unter Verwendung der Regel FALSE < TRUE verglichen, ohne Rücksicht auf die anderen beteiligten Typen
// Im folgenden Beispiel wird -10 im Vergleich wie TRUE behandelt
$val = max(-10, FALSE); // -10

// Andererseits wird 0 wie FALSE behandelt, so dass es "kleiner" ist als TRUE
$val = max(0, TRUE); // TRUE
?>

Siehe auch

  • min() - Bestimmt den Minimalwert
  • count() - Zählt alle Elemente eines Arrays oder eines Countable-Objekts

add a note add a note

User Contributed Notes 20 notes

up
66
keith at bifugi dot com
8 years ago
The simplest way to get around the fact that max() won't give the key is array_search:

<?php
$student_grades
= array ("john" => 100, "sarah" => 90, "anne" => 100);
$top_student = array_search(max($student_grades),$student_grades); // john
?>

This could also be done with array_flip, though overwriting will mean that it gets the last max value rather than the first:

<?php
$grades_index
= array_flip($student_grades);
$top_student = $grades_index[max($student_grades)]; // anne
?>

To get all the max value keys:

<?php
$top_students
= array_keys($student_grades,max($student_grades)); // john, anne
?>
up
3
Samu
1 year ago
With modern PHP versions supporting the array spread operator for function arguments, it's tempting to call max() like this:

<?php
function stuff(): iterable {
   
// This function might yield 0, 1 or n values.
}

$foo = max(...stuff());
?>

However, this is dangerous if you cannot guarantee that your generator yields **minimum** two values.

The gotcha here is that when max() receives a single argument, it must be an array of values. (When the generator doesn't yield any values, max() will throw an ArgumentCountError.)

If you can guarantee that your generator yields at least one value, then it's safe to call max by relying on the aforementioned array expectation:

<?php
function stuff(): iterable {
   
// This function will yield 1...n values.
}

// Note that here the generator is first read into an array.
$foo = max([...stuff()]);
?>

If the array is empty, max() will throw a ValueError.

The added burden is that faulty code could appear to appear to function just fine but fails at random, probably causing a lot of head-scratching at first.
up
14
deoomen
2 years ago
Watch out after PHP 8.0!

Sample code:

<?php
echo max(0,'hello');
?>

Before PHP 8.0 will return int(0) but since PHP 8.0 above code returns string("hello")!!
up
20
volch5 at gmail dot com
10 years ago
max() (and min()) on DateTime objects compares them like dates (with timezone info) and returns DateTime object.
<?php
$dt1
= new DateTime('2014-05-07 18:53', new DateTimeZone('Europe/Kiev'));
$dt2 = new DateTime('2014-05-07 16:53', new DateTimeZone('UTC'));
echo
max($dt1,$dt2)->format(DateTime::RFC3339) . PHP_EOL; // 2014-05-07T16:53:00+00:00
echo min($dt1,$dt2)->format(DateTime::RFC3339) . PHP_EOL; // 2014-05-07T18:53:00+03:00
?>

It works at least 5.3.3-7+squeeze17
up
19
costinu
12 years ago
max(null, 0) = null
max(0, null) = 0
up
13
Alex Rath
14 years ago
Notice that whenever there is a Number in front of the String, it will be used for Comparison.

<?php

  max
('7iuwmssuxue', 1); //returns 7iuwmssuxu
 
max('-7suidha', -4); //returns -4

?>

But just if it is in front of the String

<?php

  max
('sdihatewin7wduiw', 3); //returns 3

?>
up
7
johnphayes at gmail dot com
18 years ago
Regarding boolean parameters in min() and max():

(a) If any of your parameters is boolean, max and min will cast the rest of them to boolean to do the comparison.
(b) true > false
(c) However, max and min will return the actual parameter value that wins the comparison (not the cast).

Here's some test cases to illustrate:

1.  max(true,100)=true
2.  max(true,0)=true
3.  max(100,true)=100
4.  max(false,100)=100
5.  max(100,false)=100
6.  min(true,100)=true
7.  min(true,0)=0
8.  min(100,true)=100
9.  min(false,100)=false
10. min(100,false)=false
11. min(true,false)=false
12. max(true,false)=true
up
7
ries at vantwisk dot nl
16 years ago
I had several occasions that using max is a lot slower then using a if/then/else construct. Be sure to check this in your routines!

Ries
up
10
ReVo_
10 years ago
Sometimes you could need to get the max from an array which looks like this:

<?php
$arrTest
= array(
    array(
"day" => 1, "b" => 10 ),
    array(
"day" => 2, "b" => 43 ),
    array(
"day" => 3, "b" => 2 ),
    array(
"day" => 4, "b" => -3 ),
    array(
"day" => 5, "b" => 4 ),
    array(
"day" => 6, "b" => -5 )
);
?>
all max functions i see around don't provide a way to get the max value of the values in (example) key "b"

<?php
function maxValueInArray($array, $keyToSearch)
{
   
$currentMax = NULL;
    foreach(
$array as $arr)
    {
        foreach(
$arr as $key => $value)
        {
            if (
$key == $keyToSearch && ($value >= $currentMax))
            {
               
$currentMax = $value;
            }
        }
    }

    return
$currentMax;
}

//                                            array       key
$value = maxValueInArray($arrTest, "b");

?>

output: 43
up
9
marcini
15 years ago
Note that max() can compare dates, so if you write something like this:

<?php
$dates
= array('2009-02-15', '2009-03-15');
echo
max($dates);
?>

you will get: 2009-03-15.
up
2
info at osworx dot net
5 years ago
Be aware if a array like this is used (e.g. values from a shopping cart):
<?php
Array
(
    [
0] => 142,80
   
[1] => 39,27
   
[2] => 22,80
   
[3] => 175,80
)?>
The result will be: 39,27 and not - as expected - 175,80

So, to find the max value, use integer only like:
<?php
Array
(
    [
0] => 14280
   
[1] => 3927
   
[2] => 2280
   
[3] => 17580
)?>
and you will get the correct result: 17580
up
3
php at rijkvanwel dot nl
13 years ago
To get the largest key in an array:

<?php
$array
= array( 0 => 'first', 1=> 'second', /* ... */ 99 => 'nth' );
$max_key = max( array_keys( $array ) ); // 99
?>
up
2
michaelangel0 at mail.com
17 years ago
Matlab users and others may feel lonely without the double argument output from min and max functions.

To have the INDEX of the highest value in an array, as well as the value itself, use the following, or a derivative:

<?php
function doublemax($mylist){
 
$maxvalue=max($mylist);
  while(list(
$key,$value)=each($mylist)){
    if(
$value==$maxvalue)$maxindex=$key;
  }
  return array(
"m"=>$maxvalue,"i"=>$maxindex);
}
?>
up
0
blackmac01 at gmail dot com
5 years ago
In response to: keith at bifugi dot com

If you want to find the specific key(s) that match the maximum value in an array where the values may be duplicated, you can loop through and perform a simple check:
<?php

# Example Array
$a = array(
    
'key1' => 100,
    
'key2' => 90,
    
'key3' => 100,
    
'key4' => 90,
);

# First get the maximum value
$max = max($a);

# Create a new array containing all keys which have the max value
foreach($a as $key => $val) {    
     if(
$val === $max) $b[] = $key;
}

# If you want a string list, just do this
$b = implode(' ', $b);
?>

This produces consistent results and will scale well in terms of performance, whereas functions like array_search and array_flip can lead to degraded performance when dealing with large amounts of data.
up
0
sun at drupal dot org
13 years ago
Note that max() throws a warning if the array is empty:

<?php
$a
= array();
max($a);
// Warning: max(): Array must contain at least one element
?>

So make sure your data isn't empty.
up
0
harmor
16 years ago
A way to bound a integer between two values is:

<?php
function bound($x, $min, $max)
{
     return
min(max($x, $min), $max);
}
?>

which is the same as:

<?php
$tmp
= $x;
if(
$tmp < $min)
{
   
$tmp = $min;
}
if(
$tmp > $max)
{
    
$tmp = $max;
}
$y = $tmp;
?>

So if you wanted to bound an integer between 1 and 12 for example:

Input:
<?php
$x
= 0;
echo
bound(0, 1, 12).'<br />';
$x = 1;
echo
bound($x, 1, 12).'<br />';
$x = 6;
echo
bound($x, 1, 12).'<br />';
$x = 12;
echo
bound($x, 1, 12).'<br />';
$x = 13;
echo
bound($x, 1, 12).'<br />';
?>

Output:
1
1
6
12
12
up
-3
levim at php dot net
12 years ago
<?php
/**
* @param array $array
*
* @return int|null Returns the largest value of the array. Returns NULL if no
*     integers are found.
*/
function array_max_recursive(array $array) {
   
$max = NULL;
   
$stack = array($array);

    do {
       
$current = array_pop($stack );
        foreach (
$current as $value) {
            if (
is_array($value)) {
               
$stack[] = $value;
            } elseif (
filter_var($value, FILTER_VALIDATE_INT) !== FALSE) {
               
// max(NULL, 0) returns NULL, so cast it
               
$max = (int) max($max, $value);
            }
        }

    } while (!empty(
$stack));

    return
$max;
}
?>

- This function is not actually recursive, but fulfills the requirement that it works on sub-arrays.  I do this because PHP is not very good at recursion.  I also did it because I enjoy doing things this way. 
- It returns something of type int, never a string representation of an int. The exception is when you provide an array that does not contain any integers.  It will then return NULL.
- It ignores non-array, non-int values.
up
-4
toon dot baeyens at gmail dot com
12 years ago
A little function for multi-dimensional arrays:
<?php
function amax($array){
    if(
is_array($array)){
        foreach(
$array as $key => $value){
           
$array[$key] = amax($value);
        }
        return
max($array);
    }else{
        return
$array;
    }
}
?>
up
-5
chris at candm dt org dt uk
3 years ago
A function to return the key of the max value of an array. For multiple max values, it will return the key of first. Change > to >= to get the last.

function array_max_key($arr) {
    $maxkey='';
    $maxval=false;
    array_walk($arr,
        function (&$cval,&$ckey) use(&$maxkey,&$maxval) {
            if ($maxval === false || $cval > $maxval) {
                $maxval = $cval;
                $maxkey = $ckey;
            }
        }
    );
    return $maxkey;
}
up
-9
Michael Blinn
5 years ago
Be careful using max() with objects, as it returns a reference not a new object.

<?php

$min_date
= date_create('2019-03-05');
$max_date = date_create('2019-03-06');

$date_by_reference = max($min_date, $max_date);

// $date_by_reference and $max_date are now the same object

echo '$max_date is ' . date_format($max_date, 'Y-m-d') . PHP_EOL; // '2019-03-06'
echo '$date_by_reference is ' . date_format($date_by_reference, 'Y-m-d') . PHP_EOL; // '2019-03-06'

date_add($date_by_reference, date_interval_create_from_date_string('1 days')); // Add 1 day to $date_by_reference, changes $max_date too

echo '$max_date is changed ' . date_format($max_date, 'Y-m-d') . PHP_EOL; // '2019-03-07'
echo '$date_by_reference is changed ' . date_format($date_by_reference, 'Y-m-d') . PHP_EOL; // '2019-03-07'

?>
To Top