In PHP, what are the best practices for handling complex data structures like arrays when working with CodeIgniter or similar frameworks?

When working with complex data structures like arrays in PHP frameworks like CodeIgniter, it is best practice to use helper functions or libraries to handle data manipulation efficiently and securely. This can help in organizing and managing the data effectively, ensuring code readability and maintainability.

// Example of using CodeIgniter's Array Helper to manipulate complex data structures

// Load the Array Helper in CodeIgniter
$this->load->helper('array');

// Example of merging two arrays
$array1 = array('a', 'b', 'c');
$array2 = array('d', 'e', 'f');
$merged_array = array_merge($array1, $array2);

// Example of getting a value from a multidimensional array
$multi_array = array(
    'key1' => array(
        'key2' => 'value'
    )
);
$value = element('key2', $multi_array['key1']);