Simple unoptimized functions to translate PHP array notation string for example html input name and its value to array and vice versa.

arrayPathFunctions.php

<?php
	/**
	 * Attach value $value to array path: 
	 * attachValueToArrayPath('valueHere','foo[bar]')
	 * results array('foo'=>array('bar'=>'valuehere'));
	 *
	 * @param mixed $value
	 * @param string $path
	 * @return array
	 */
	function attachValueToArrayPath($value,$path)
	{
		if( strpos($path, '[') === false )
		{
			return array($path=>$value);
		}
		
		$pathElements = array();
		
		// theres gotta be easier way
		while( strpos($path, '[') !== false)
		{
			$arrayPos =  strpos($path, '[');
			// Get the next key in the path starting from previous [
			$arrayKey = substr($path, 0,$arrayPos);
			
			$pathElements[] = trim($arrayKey);

			// Set the next search point in the path
			$path = substr($path, $arrayPos+1);
			
			$path = substr_replace ($path , "", strpos($path, ']'),1);
		}
		
		$pathElements[] = $path;
		
		$pathElements = array_reverse($pathElements);
		
		$return  = array();
		
		$pointer = &$return;
		
		do 
		{
			// get key to set
			$key = array_pop($pathElements);
			
			// if it is the last key
			if(count($pathElements) == 0)
			{
				// set correct value
				$pointer = array($key => $value); 
			}else 
			{
				// prepare for next key
				$pointer[$key]=array();
				
				// move pointer
				$pointer = &$pointer[$key];
			}
			
		}while(count($pathElements)>0);
		
		return $return;
	}

	/**
	 * Determines value for array path eg. foo[bar] from $value array
	 * reverse of attachValueToArrayPath.
	 * 
	 * @see attachValueToArrayPath
	 * @param mixed $value
	 * @param string $path
	 * @return mixed
	 */
	protected function extractValueFromPath($value,$path)
	{
		// if found straight
		if(isset($value[$path]))
		{
			return $value[$path];
		}
	
		// More parts
		while( $arrayPos = strpos($path, '[') )
		{
			// Get the next key in the path starting from previous [
			$arrayKey = trim(substr($path, 0, $arrayPos), ']');
	
			// Set potentially final value or the next search point in the array
			// handles recursion here
			if(isset($value[$arrayKey]))
			{
				$value = $value[$arrayKey];
			}
	
			// Set the next search point in the path
			$path = trim(substr($path, $arrayPos + 1), ']');
		}
	
		if(isset($value[$path]))
		{
			$value = $value[$path];
		}else
		{
			$value = null;
		}
		return $value;
	}