How to convert array to a string using methods other than JSON?

serialize() is the function you are looking for. It will return a string representation of its input array or object in a PHP-specific internal format. The string may be converted back to its original form with unserialize().

But beware, that not all objects are serializable, or some may be only partially serializable and unable to be completely restored with unserialize().

$array = array(1,2,3,'foo');
echo serialize($array);

// Prints
a:4:{i:0;i:1;i:1;i:2;i:2;i:3;i:3;s:3:"foo";}

Use the implode() function:

$array = array('lastname', 'email', 'phone');
$comma_separated = implode(",", $array);
echo $comma_separated; // lastname,email,phone

readable output!

echo json_encode($array);     //outputs--->    "name1":"value1",  "name2":"value2",  ...

OR

echo print_r($array, true);

You are looking for serialize(). Here is an example:

$array = array('foo', 'bar');

//Array to String
$string = serialize($array);

//String to array
$array = unserialize($string);