What does -> mean in PDO PHP?

Question

I'm a complete beginner in learning PDO for PHP and I actually haven't learned MySQL or MySQLi yet.

(Please take a look at the code below) I'm trying to make sense of what this " -> " arrow means and I couldn't find an answer anywhere else. Is the arrow semantically equivalent to the action word "perform" in every day english?

E.G for the codes below, $stmt (perform) -> closeCursor();

Code:

$stmt = $db->prepare($sql);
$stmt->execute(array($title,$entry));
$stmt->closeCursor();

Thank you.

Method call of the specific object http://www.php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.inheritance.php — ka_lin, Mar 15 '13 at 17:36
before learning about databases, you should learn basic language syntax — Marko D, Mar 15 '13 at 17:36
In your code, $db is an instance of the database connection. With PDO you can use methods like prepare, execute, and others. Take a look on good tutorial about PDO. — Mihai8, Mar 15 '13 at 17:40
[Check this](http://php.net/manual/en/language.types.object.php). — The Alpha, Mar 15 '13 at 17:40
It means that PHP decided to be difficult and NOT use dot notation — Devin Young, Mar 15 '13 at 17:44

score 12 · Accepted Answer · edited Mar 15 '13 at 17:40

12

The arrow is part of PHP's object syntax, it's saying:

$object->method();

In English is:

Run method on object

It's also used for accessing properties.

As PDO is a class in PHP and variables like $db are instances of that class, you're able to make use of the methods and properties in those instances.

Check out PHP's object docs for more info on the subject, and if you're new to Object Oriented programming then you'll need to research the subject.

edited Mar 15 '13 at 17:40

dnagirl

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answered Mar 15 '13 at 17:39

Tom Walters

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I guess you would recommend that I search up Object Oriented Programming and learn the intro to that and then try to make sense of PDO? – moto Mar 15 '13 at 17:57
Yep, PDO is based on the principals of OOP, and it's an excellent paradigm to understand for modern programming. – Tom Walters Mar 15 '13 at 18:04

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Mar 15 '13 at 17:46

0

That is php's object notation equivilent to . in Java and Javascript. Basically it's used to access a method or property of an object.

See the Objects and Classes documentation.

edited Mar 15 '13 at 17:46

Marcel Korpel

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answered Mar 15 '13 at 17:41

prodigitalson

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What does -> mean in PDO PHP?

2 Answers2