EE2 force_array()

/**
	 * Force Array
	 *
	 * Take a totally mixed item and parse it into an array compatible with EE's Template library
	 *
	 * @access	private
	 * @param	mixed
	 * @return	string
	 */
	private function _force_array($var, $level = 1)
	{
		if (is_object($var))
		{
			$var = (array) $var;
		}

		if($level == 1 && !isset($var[0]))
		{
			$var = array($var);
		}

		if (is_array($var))
		{
			// Make sure everything else is array or single value
			foreach($var as $index => &$child)
			{
				$child = self::_force_array($child, $level + 1);

				if (is_object($child))
				{
					$child = (array) $child;
				}

				// Format for EE syntax looping
				if (is_array($child) AND ! is_int($index))
				{
					$child = array($child);
				}
			}
		}

		return $var;
	}

@param  mixed

Very descriptive :)