I come from python background and the python datatype which is similar (a dictionary) is an **unordered** set of key value pairs.

I am wondering if PHP associative arrays are unordered? They appear to be ordered.

```
$test = array(
  'test' => 'test',
  'bar' => 'bar',
);

var_dump($test);    

var_dump(array_slice($test, 0, 1));

```

Test always comes before bar and I can slice this array as you see. So is this always guaranteed to be ordered across php versions? Is the order just the order that I have declared the array with? So something is internally pointing 'test' to place [0] in the array? I have read <http://php.net/manual/en/language.types.array.php> but it doesn't shed too much light on this issue. I appreciate your responses. Ty