How to remove duplicate values from a multi-dimensional array in PHP

Here is another way. No intermediate variables are saved.

We used this to de-duplicate results from a variety of overlapping queries.

$input = array_map("unserialize", array_unique(array_map("serialize", $input)));

Since 5.2.9 you can use array_unique() if you use the SORT_REGULAR flag like so:

array_unique($array, SORT_REGULAR);

This makes the function compare elements for equality as if $a == $b were being used, which is perfect for your case.

Output

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [0] => abc
            [1] => def
        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [0] => ghi
            [1] => jkl
        )

    [2] => Array
        (
            [0] => mno
            [1] => pql
        )

)

Keep in mind, though, that the documentation states:

array_unique() is not intended to work on multi dimensional arrays.

I had a similar problem but I found a 100% working solution for it.

<?php
    function super_unique($array,$key)
    {
       $temp_array = [];
       foreach ($array as &$v) {
           if (!isset($temp_array[$v[$key]]))
           $temp_array[$v[$key]] =& $v;
       }
       $array = array_values($temp_array);
       return $array;

    }


$arr="";
$arr[0]['id']=0;
$arr[0]['titel']="ABC";
$arr[1]['id']=1;
$arr[1]['titel']="DEF";
$arr[2]['id']=2;
$arr[2]['titel']="ABC";
$arr[3]['id']=3;
$arr[3]['titel']="XYZ";

echo "<pre>";
print_r($arr);
echo "unique*********************<br/>";
print_r(super_unique($arr,'titel'));

?>

Another way. Will preserve keys as well.

function array_unique_multidimensional($input)
{
    $serialized = array_map('serialize', $input);
    $unique = array_unique($serialized);
    return array_intersect_key($input, $unique);
}

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [id] => 1
            [name] => john
        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [id] => 2
            [name] => smith
        )

    [2] => Array
        (
            [id] => 3
            [name] => john
        )

    [3] => Array
        (
            [id] => 4
            [name] => robert
        )

)

$temp = array_unique(array_column($array, 'name'));
$unique_arr = array_intersect_key($array, $temp);

This will remove the duplicate names from array. unique by key