"Method should either have body or be abstract" when a method body is present

Question

I have the following code:

class PairGalleryController extends Controller
{
    /**
     * @Route("/PairGalleryIndex")
     */
    public function IndexAction()?    
    {
        $output = "";    
    }
}

... and yet I see an error in my IDE saying that the method "should either have body or be abstract."

I'm sure I'm overlooking a simple solution. What am I missing that is causing this problem?

====

Edit: Interestingly, this code refuses to be formatted in the preview as code when I indent it on the StackOverflow editing form. So maybe there's an invisible character that's causing parsing problems in some way. That's my guess, anyhow. I would love to hear others' ideas.

Which IDE? And why are yo bothered? Does it compile and run??? — RiggsFolly, Mar 02 '18 at 17:19
Hi RiggsFolly. This is in PHPStorm. The code does not compile -- I get a complaint about an unexpected ' ' (T_STRING) on the line containing my function signature. — Mayor of the Plattenbaus, Mar 02 '18 at 17:20
There is a dodgy char after `$output = "";` in a simple editor it shows up as `$output = "";?` — RiggsFolly, Mar 02 '18 at 17:22
@Patrickatwork has my answer helped you? If yes, you could accept it as the right answer and if not, I'm ready to help some more! — Barthy, Mar 03 '18 at 14:18
It did. Thanks for following up. I have now accepted the answer. — Mayor of the Plattenbaus, Mar 05 '18 at 07:55

Barthy · Accepted Answer · 2018-05-16T11:43:31.723

Specific Answer to your question

The code I copied from your question indeed contains invisible characters:

<u+2028>, unicode character 'LINE SEPARATOR':

class PairGalleryController extends Controller
{
    /**
    * @Route("/PairGalleryIndex")
    */
    public function IndexAction()<u+2028>
    {
        $output = "";<u+2028>
    }
}

Try removing these characters.

General Answer

Since we have found out that the problem were invisible characters in the range of 'line separator' or 'zero width space', you can find possibilities to display whitespaces here:

phpStorm: Zero Width Characters locator or: Settings -> Editor -> General -> Appearance -> Show whitespaces [source]
TextMate: View -> Show Invisible Characters
SublimeText: in user settings: "draw_white_space": "all" [source]

NOTE: please feel free to update and extend this list

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 02 '18 at 17:23

0

Change the "Language" to PHP 7.1. You are set to too low of a version. The nullable IndexAction()? is a feature starting in PHP 7.1.

answered Mar 02 '18 at 17:23

BA_Webimax

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"Method should either have body or be abstract" when a method body is present

2 Answers2

Specific Answer to your question

General Answer