help passing to variables to a function

[misheck]

I am using a codeigniter framework but I think the question will be easy to understand. I need to pass to 2 $_POST variables to a function in my models the function is model function->

 function new_todo($content)
    {
        $date = date('l js \of F Y h:i:s A');

    $data = array(
           'my_day' => $date ,
           'content' => $content ,
           'author' => 'Misheck'
        );

    $this->db->insert('query7',$data);        

}

So originally I was just retrieving one value but now I need to add another value for the author.

So in my controller I had this originally controller ->

function add_item()
	{
		$content = $this->input->post('content');
		$this->todo_model->new_todo($content);

	redirect('');
}

So now I will add another $author = $this->input->post('author'); after the content variable. I will need to change new_todo($content); and convert that data into an array like this
alternative solution ->

$content = $this->input->post('content');
$author = $this->input->post('author');

$stuff = new array($content, $author)
$this->todo_model->new_todo($stuff);

I am now not sure on how I will be able to use or retrieve this data in new_todo() function? I am just short of logical thinking and I am new to Php and MVC.

[halojoy]

You just have to make 2 arguments to send to function:
function new_todo($content, $author)

/// change in call the function
$this->todo_model->new_todo($content, $author);

///
 function new_todo($content, $author)
    {
        $date = date('l js \of F Y h:i:s A');

    $data = array(
           'my_day' => $date ,
           'content' => $content ,
           'author' => $author
        );

    $this->db->insert('query7',$data);        

}

// add_item
$content = $this->input->post('content');
$author  = $this->input->post('author');
$this->todo_model->new_todo($content, $author);

[misheck]

Thanks for the help. I had assumed that I would have to put an ampersand in front of the first variable because I have seen some functions where they look like

function new_todo(&$content, $author) 
    { 
//some function
}

Why do they put the & in first value of the function? Also if I was collecting lets 10 values from my form and wanted to pass those variables to the function do I still use the same method of passing all 10 variables in the function?

Thanks again for the help.

[halojoy]

putting &$content in front of variable
is called 'pass by reference'

This will let function change the value of &$content
and send it back to the call.

Today they do no longer recommend use of 'pass by reference' in PHP.
And this is something I never do, myself. There is no need.
You can read more about it in PHP Manual:
http://php.net/manual/en/language.references.pass.php

I am glad you could use my suggestion.

If there are 10 values to pass to one function
you better use one array() with 10 values

Then you pass the one array to function( $my_array)
and let the function handle those 10 values inside the array()

[Kudose]

PHP5 did away with the need of references for the majority of the previous needs. It was used mainly due to previous versions passing objects and arrays by value, incurring overhead and not always what you wanted anyways.

You do still need references in some instances though ... i.e. a variable length argument list on the function call_user_func_array