attempting to understand order and structure

[ohemgee]

<?
   $mtime = microtime();
   $mtime = explode(" ",$mtime);
   $mtime = $mtime[1] + $mtime[0];
   $starttime = $mtime; 

if($_GET['test'] == 1) {
 echo $totaltime;
   }

   $mtime = microtime();
   $mtime = explode(" ",$mtime);
   $mtime = $mtime[1] + $mtime[0];
   $endtime = $mtime;
   $totaltime = ($endtime - $starttime); 
?>

This wont work. I need an explanation as to why not.

[ClarkF1]

You're echoing $totaltime before you've set it...........it needs to come after $totaltime = ($endtime - $starttime);

so a working script would be

<?
   $mtime = microtime();
   $mtime = explode(" ",$mtime);
   $mtime = $mtime[1] + $mtime[0];
   $starttime = $mtime; 


   $mtime = microtime();
   $mtime = explode(" ",$mtime);
   $mtime = $mtime[1] + $mtime[0];

   $endtime = $mtime;
   $totaltime = ($endtime - $starttime);
   if($_GET['test'] == 1) {
     echo $totaltime;
   }
?>

You also need to make sure you're running the script as [filename goes here]?test=1

[ohemgee]

I understood that part. I used a workaround with SESSIONS. thanks.