using variables when defining function?

AliasZero

I have some code which looks something like this:

<?

$myvar = 3;

echo times_number($_GET['first'], $_GET['second']);

function times_number($number, $times_by = $myvar) {

 $buf = $number * $times_by;

 return $buf;

}

?>

the basic idea is that I need to set the "default" value of $times_by to a variable i have set previously (in this case $myvar)

problem is I get Parse Error in script.php on line (line number of function() )

if we substituted $myvar with it's value, we're fine (example code below)


<?

$myvar = 3;

echo times_number($_GET['first'], $_GET['second']);

function times_number($number, $times_by = 3) {

 $buf = $number * $times_by;

 return $buf;

}

?>

the above code works fine..

Is there any way to fix this parse error, so I can make my script work how it should.

the only way I can think of which could also work, but is longer than (i think) neccessary is:


<?

$myvar = 3;

echo times_number($_GET['first'], $_GET['second']);

function times_number($number, $times_by) {

 global $myvar;

 if(!$times_by)
       $times_by = $myvar;

 $buf = $number * $times_by;

 return $buf;

}

?>

If anyone could help it'd be really appreciated!

mflanagan

The manual says that you cannot use variables for the default values. Why not a constant? Then the code would be something like:

define("MYVAR", 3);
echo times_number($_GET['first'], $_GET['second']);
function times_number($number, $times_by = MYVAR) {
     $buf = $number * $times_by;
     return $buf;
}

If you need to redefine MYVAR later on, then this won't work. You can define a constant but once in a script.

AstroTeg

Yup, you can only define a constant as the default value. If you absolutely have to have a variable, then just add it as another parameter for the function and then toss an if statement in there. If $var2 is blank, then assign $var3 to it.