Introduction to PHP for Os X by Example

Functions

  • To define a basic function we use the following syntax .
function function_name(){ function code; }
  • If a function is to have invocation arguments we name their associated variables in the function definition as follows : function function_name($inv_arg_var) {
  • Invocation argument variables can have default values like so: function function_name($inv_arg_var='default_val') {
  • All invocation argument variables that have a default value should be at the end of the list of variables and all that don’t should be at the start.
  • Variables within a function are scoped to that function. That is they do not exist outside the function. The reverse goes for variables we create outside the function.
  • To use a variable from outside a function inside it we can use the key word global or better still the $GLOBALS array
  • To invoke a function we use this syntax: function_name();
  • Invoking a function with invocation arguments is just as straight forward: function_name('inv_arg_var');
  • To return a value from a function use the keyword return.
  • To assign the value returned from a function, to a variable, use the following syntax: $var_name = function_name('inv_arg_var');

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