Call function in an array in a property of a class

Question

Can someone please explain me why the following doesn't work, or give me a link which explains why? I can't find it here or on google.

This works:

var_dump( array( 'test' => rand(1,5) ) );

This does not:

$myClass = new myClass();
var_dump($myClass->array);

class myClass {

    public $array = array( 'test' => rand(1,5) );

}

It doesn't like the function call in the array:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '(', expecting ')'

I guess it is my lack of understanding. If someone could help me to understand it, this would be nice.

Thanks!

@ShaktiSingh OP is asking to initialize a property with a computed value, e.g. depends on runtime information. That's the same problem as in the linked duplicate. And it doesnt work for the same reason that's cited in the accepted answer. — Gordon, Nov 30 '11 at 09:43

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:44

2

$myClass = new myClass();
var_dump($myClass->array);

class myClass {

    public $array;

    function myClass(){
        $this -> array =  array( 'test' => rand(1,5) );
    }

}

For more details: What is the better approach to initialize class variables?

edited May 23 '17 at 11:44

Community

1
1

answered Nov 30 '11 at 09:28

Riz

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any particular reason why you are using the legacy constructor in your example? – Gordon Nov 30 '11 at 09:30
no particular reason, it just works :) – Riz Nov 30 '11 at 09:42
1

… until you put the class into a namespace – Gordon Nov 30 '11 at 09:44
Thanks dev for the link. I already use your way (using the __construct) but was just wondering why it isn't possible to declare it as a property :) – Talisin Nov 30 '11 at 11:34

Call function in an array in a property of a class

1 Answers1