functions.php

<?php

    function get_path($obj, $path, $default=NULL)
    {
        if(empty($obj)) {
            return $default;
        }

        $parts = explode(".", $path);

        $current_part = array_shift($parts);
        $current_obj = $obj;

        while(!empty($current_part) || $current_part === "0") {
            if(is_object($current_obj) && !empty($current_obj->$current_part)) {
                $current_obj = $current_obj->$current_part;
            } elseif(is_array($current_obj) && !empty($current_obj[$current_part])) {
                $current_obj = $current_obj[$current_part];
            } else {
                return $default;
            }
            $current_part = array_shift($parts);
        }

        return $current_obj;
    }