- print_r: documentation ( source)
<?php
$master_array = array(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6);
$n = 2; // This is the number of columns / arrays
$pattern_array = array();
$meta_array = array();
for ($i=1, $z=2*n; $i <= $n; ++$i) {
$pattern_array[$i] = $i;
$pattern_array[$z-i] = $i;
$meta_array[] = array();
}
foreach ($master_array as $i => $element) {
$pattern_index = $i % $z;
$meta_index = $pattern_array[$pattern_index] - 1;
$meta_array[$meta_index][] = $element;
}
print_r($meta_array);