Alternative to temporary variable to access array-result from function in PHP

Question

Possible Duplicate:
PHP syntax for dereferencing function result

If a PHP function returns an array, the following syntax will not work:

$firstValue = $object->methodThatReturnsArray()[0]; // syntax error, unexpected '['

This, however, works fine:

$temporaryArray = $object->methodThatReturnsArray(); 
$firstValue = $temporaryArray[0]; // temporary will never be reused

What is the best syntax to solve this problem, or is creating that variable the recommended approach?

-1 This has been asked many, many times here. If you want the key `0`, you can use `list($firstValue) = $object->methodThatReturnsArray();`. — Artefacto, Jul 04 '11 at 13:30
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1459377/access-array-returned-by-a-function-in-php/1459393#1459393 — Lightness Races in Orbit, Jul 04 '11 at 13:38
@tucuxi: It's very easy. Look to your right for a whole host of duplicates. The same list appeared as you wrote your question. — Lightness Races in Orbit, Jul 04 '11 at 13:38
@Tomak: not strictly true, since the list is built from questions and answers, and I only had a question. — tucuxi, Jul 04 '11 at 13:42

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 04 '11 at 13:28

2

Variable is the best approach.

Still PHP 5.4 adds the feature to be able using the first mentioned syntax.

answered Jul 04 '11 at 13:28

Gedrox

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See http://www.php.net/archive/2011.php#id2011-06-28-1 change titled "Array dereferencing support". More about this change can be read in http://schlueters.de/blog/archives/138-Features-in-PHP-trunk-Array-dereferencing.html. – Gedrox Jul 04 '11 at 13:34
@yes123 http://www.php.net/releases/NEWS_5_4_0_alpha1.txt - General improvements: Added array dereferencing support – Yoshi Jul 04 '11 at 13:35
thanks - will accept after a few minutes. Frustrating because it is common syntax in many C-like languages. @yes123: feature is announced for 5.4, just checked. – tucuxi Jul 04 '11 at 13:35
oh god. they are getting ready for php 6: `Changed default value of "default_charset" php.ini option from ISO-8859-1 to UTF-8` – dynamic Jul 04 '11 at 13:50
do you know when something like this will be accepted? https://wiki.php.net/rfc/instance-method-call `new Object()->method();` – dynamic Jul 04 '11 at 13:54

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 04 '11 at 13:31

0

Well, you can have list to the left of the = (list($firstValue) = $object->methodThatReturnsArray();), if you need anything too deep in the array, a temporary variable is your only option.

answered Jul 04 '11 at 13:31

cwallenpoole

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Alternative to temporary variable to access array-result from function in PHP

2 Answers2