The array_pop() function in PHP is used to remove and return the last element of an array.

Syntax:

mixed array_pop(array &$array)

• Parameter: The array from which the last element will be popped.
• Return Value: The value of the last element, or NULL if the array is empty.
• Note: The original array is modified (the last element is removed).

Example 1: Basic usage

$fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"];
$lastFruit = array_pop($fruits);

echo $lastFruit; // Output: cherry
print_r($fruits); // Output: Array ( [0] => apple [1] => banana )

Example 2: Popping from a numeric array

$numbers = [10, 20, 30, 40];
$popped = array_pop($numbers);

echo $popped; // Output: 40
print_r($numbers); // Output: Array ( [0] => 10 [1] => 20 [2] => 30 )

Example 3: Popping from an associative array

$person = [
    "name" => "John",
    "age" => 30,
    "city" => "New York"
];
$removed = array_pop($person);

echo $removed; // Output: New York
print_r($person); 
// Output: Array ( [name] => John [age] => 30 )

Even with associative arrays, array_pop() still removes the last element based on insertion order, not by key name.

Note:

If you use array_pop() on an empty array, it returns NULL:

$empty = [];
$result = array_pop($empty);
var_dump($result); // Output: NULL