What data structure can be used to store pathfinding results in PHP efficiently?

When storing pathfinding results in PHP efficiently, a commonly used data structure is an associative array. By using the nodes of the path as keys and the cost or distance as values, you can quickly access the information for each node. This allows for easy retrieval and updating of pathfinding results without the need for complex data structures.

// Sample code snippet for storing pathfinding results in PHP efficiently using an associative array
$pathfindingResults = [];

// Storing the cost or distance for each node in the path
$pathfindingResults['node1'] = 10;
$pathfindingResults['node2'] = 15;
$pathfindingResults['node3'] = 20;

// Retrieving the cost or distance for a specific node
$costForNode2 = $pathfindingResults['node2'];

// Updating the cost or distance for a specific node
$pathfindingResults['node2'] = 12;