How to cast variable to array

You can cast a variable to an array by using:

    $var = (array)$arr;

Alternatively you could use settype:

settype($a, "array");

For expliciting the variable type. It's exactly the same as what happens with a typecast behind the scenes. (More useful for group-wise typecasting e.g. in loops.)

$a = (array) $v;

is the answer.

I would write your could snippet like this (short and you read it and know exactly what is happening):

$a = is_array($v) ? $v : array($v);