Question on $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']

cpthk

I am trying to have this php code post variable to itself.
Here is my code:

<?
	echo "<form action=\"$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']\" method=\"post\"></form>";

?>

I got a error from that: Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_ENCAPSED_AND_WHITESPACE, expecting T_STRING or T_VARIABLE or T_NUM_STRING in /home/cpthk/public_html/project/test.php on line 2

And if I change to:

<?
	$self = $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'];
	echo "<form action=\"$self\" method=\"post\"></form>";

?>

Then if works fine. I realized everytime I have $SERVER['PHP_SELF'] with the double quote"" at the sides, it will have problem. Even if I do:

<? echo "$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']"; ?>

Still gives me the error. What wrong with my coding?

Thanks.

NogDog

To have associative array variables properly interpolated within a double-quoted string, you either need to encase the entire variable within curly braces, or else not quote the array index(es). The latter option is, unfortunately, counter-intuitive since PHP throws a warning is you do not quote the index when using the array variable outside of a quoted string. :rolleyes:

echo "foo $test['index'] bar"; // error
echo "foo {$test['index']} bar"; // OK
echo "foo $test[index] bar";  // OK
echo "foo " . $test['index'] . " bar"; // OK
echo "foo " . $test[index] . " bar"; // error

cpthk

But if I have

<? $i[test] = 'cool';
echo "I am $i[test]";
?>

This one actually works fine. Why?

Thanks for helping.

NogDog

It's just a peculiarity of the PHP syntax (the same as the 3rd line in the sample code in my first reply). The parser wants you to quote any string literal being used as an array index with one exception: when you are using that variable within a double-quoted string and not using curly braces (a.k.a. "complex variable notation") around the variable..

I personally prefer to either use the complex notation or else string concatenation, so that I can be consistent in always quoting the array indexes:

echo "I am {$i['test']}";
// ...or...
echo "I am " . $i['test'];

laserlight

This one actually works fine.

Strictly speaking, it does not since the:

$i[test] = 'cool';

Uses test which is an undefined constant, and thus assumed to be a string.

Also, I suggest that you use <?php instead of <? since the short open tag option may not be enabled, and if it is, it may come into conflict with the XML <?xml open tag.

Weedpacket

And while you're developing, have error reporting set to E_ALL - and then you'd be told that $i[test]='cool' is not fine.