What is a "language construct"?

[ppowell]

I see that a lot in the PHP manual, and I'm sorry but nobody has been able to explain it to me that makes sense.. I hear stuff about functions and language constructs and I can't figure out what it is.

I know what they are: echo(), unset(), etc. but those look like functions to me.

Phil

[sneakyimp]

ok...not entirely sure here but i'll try.

the 'if statement' can be considered a language construct
the 'for loop' can be considered a language construct

it refers collectively to the basic 'things' that make up a programming langauge. in other words, you 'construct the language' from its language constructs.

i believe this might illustrate it:

"The PHP Programming language is made up of such language constructs as if statements, for loops, while loops, variable assignments, class constructors, etc."

did i get that right?

[Shrike]

Yep thats right, also things like echo, print, continue.

Class constructors are not language constructs, rather the 'new' keyword is. And variable assignments are not either, they're operators (afaik).

[ppowell]

Thanx, but still not clear to me since I understand about if, for, while, etc., but what makes echo, unset, continue, print, etc constructs?

Phil

[Shrike]

Can't say I know the answer to that one. The manual gives on bit of information in that they can't be used as variable functions, e.g.

$var = "md5";
$md5string = $var("foo"); // Works
$var = "unset";
$unset = $var($bar); // Won't work

Perhaps someone else can shed some light 🙂

[ppowell]

I'm sorry but nothing I've read or heard from others sheds any light on this. I simply can't fathom "language constructs" as a concept, period. 🙁

Phil