PHP return syntax

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What is the PHP ? : operator called and what does it do?

Can someone please tell me what this 'return' php code means / does:

return ($status=='SUCCESS' && $blocked=='YES') ? $reason : false;

I'm familiar with the regular return $variable type of statements in php, but I don't get what the specific brackets ( ) and ? question marks and the ": false" does.

(this is the return statement at the end of a php function)

Almost (its very similar but the link's question lacks the &&). I didn't find it when i was searching. — Marc Dubois, Aug 08 '12 at 00:46
Yes, sorry, I was interrupted. This is missing this very important question here as reference: [Reference - What does this symbol mean in PHP?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3737139/reference-what-does-this-symbol-mean-in-php) - Whenever you run about some symbol you do not understand, that is a really good reference (next to the manual, it's sometimes hard to even search for these that's why that reference is worth to bookmark). — hakre, Aug 08 '12 at 01:03

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 08 '12 at 00:38

2

It's a ternary statement. It's basically a shorthand notation for if/else.

In your example it would read like: If $status is equal to "success" and $blocked is equal to "Yes" return $reason, else, return false;

answered Aug 08 '12 at 00:38

John Conde

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thanks for the perfect explanation - Exactly what I needed to know. – Marc Dubois Aug 08 '12 at 00:42

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 08 '12 at 00:38

1

That's a ternary, or conditional operator, it's the same as if you had:

if($status=='SUCCESS' && $blocked=='YES'){
return $reason;}
else{
return false;
}

answered Aug 08 '12 at 00:38

Robot Woods

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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 08 '12 at 00:41

0

It means the same as this:

if($status == 'SUCCESS' && $blocked == 'YES')
{
    return $reason;
}
else
{
    return false;
}

answered Aug 08 '12 at 00:41

PriestVallon

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PHP return syntax

3 Answers3