php assign variable from function that returns array

Question

I'm curious if I can assign a variable the value of a specific array index value returned by a function in PHP on one line.

Right now I have a function that returns an associative array and I do what I want in two lines.

$var = myFunction($param1, $param2);
$var = $var['specificIndex'];

without adding a parameter that determines what the return type is, is there a way to do this in one line?

Rocket Hazmat · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-25 18:40:14Z

up vote 2 down vote accepted

In PHP 5.4, you can do this: $var = myFunction(param1, param2)['specificIndex'];.

Another option is to know the order of the array, and use list(). Note that list only works with numeric arrays.

For example:

function myFunction($a, $b){
    // CODE
    return array(12, 16);
}

list(,$b) = myFunction(1,2); // $b is now 16

edited Oct 25 '12 at 18:40

answered Oct 25 '12 at 18:24

Rocket Hazmat
53.6k750101

	This is a good answer. The `list(,$b)` is probably not the best syntax to use for readability, though (in my opinion). – user1477388 Oct 25 '12 at 18:25
	@user1477388: I know, but it was just an example. – Rocket Hazmat Oct 25 '12 at 18:26
	Sadly my server uses PHP 5.2. thanks for the list option though – Devin Crossman Oct 25 '12 at 18:37
	@DevinCrossman: You're welcome :-) – Rocket Hazmat Oct 25 '12 at 18:41

user1477388 · Answer 2 · 2012-10-25 18:22:43Z

up vote 1 down vote

You could add an additional optional parameter and, if set, would return that value. See the following code:

function myFunction($param1, $param2, $returnVal = "")
{
    $arr = array();

    // your code here

    if ($returnVal)
    {
        return $arr[$returnval];
    }
    else
    {
        return $arr;
    }
}

answered Oct 25 '12 at 18:22

user1477388
2,2371416

bad code, but... Works! – FabianoLothor Oct 25 '12 at 18:24

What makes this code bad? Just not conventional, you mean? – user1477388 Oct 25 '12 at 18:26

Just wanted to say that there are better ways to solve the problem. – FabianoLothor Oct 25 '12 at 18:28

2

I'd make it a one-liner: return ( $returnVal) ? $arr[$returnVal] : $arr; – nickb Oct 25 '12 at 18:28

@FabianoLothor: Feel free to post them if you would. @nickb: Yes, that is also an option. For best readability, I posted mine as a simple if statement. – user1477388 Oct 25 '12 at 18:30

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php assign variable from function that returns array

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