Recreate original PHP array from print_r output <p>Let's say I have this output from some source where I don't have access to the original PHP created array:</p> <pre><code>Array ( [products] =&gt; Array ( [name] =&gt; Arduino Nano Version 3.0 mit ATMEGA328P [id] =&gt; 10005 ) [listings] =&gt; Array ( [category] =&gt; [title] =&gt; This is the first line This is the second line [subtitle] =&gt; This is the first subtitle This is the second subtitle [price] =&gt; 24.95 [quantity] =&gt; [stock] =&gt; [shipping_method] =&gt; Slow and cheap [condition] =&gt; New [defects] =&gt; ) [table_count] =&gt; 2 [tables] =&gt; Array ( [0] =&gt; products [1] =&gt; listings ) ) </code></pre> <p>Now I would like to input that data and have an algorithm recreate the original array that it was printing so I can then use it for my own application.</p> <p>Currently I am thinking about a <code>sub_str()</code> and regex statements that pull data and place it appropriately. Before I head further, is there a simpler way, via already written code or php plugins that do this for me already out there?</p>