array_shift
    (PHP 4 )
array_shift --       Shift an element off the beginning of array     
Description
mixed 
array_shift ( array array)
     array_shift() shifts the first value of the      array off and returns it, shortening the      array by one element and moving everything      down. All numerical array keys will be modified to start counting from zero      while literal keys won't be touched. If array is empty       (or is not an array), NULL will be returned.     
Note: This function will  reset() the array pointer after  use.
Example 1. array_shift() example <?php
$stack = array("orange", "banana", "apple", "raspberry");
$fruit = array_shift($stack);
print_r($stack);
 ?> |  
 
      This would result in $stack having 3 elements left:       Array
(
    [0] => banana
    [1] => apple
    [2] => raspberry
 ) |  
 
      and orange will be assigned to       $fruit.        | 
     See also array_unshift(),      array_push(), and      array_pop().