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how can I get a object from an array when this array is returned by a function?

class Item {
    private $contents = array('id' => 1);

    public function getContents() {
        return $contents;
    }
}

$i = new Item();
$id = $i->getContents()['id']; // This is not valid?

//I know this is possible, but I was looking for a 1 line method..
$contents = $i->getContents();
$id = $contents['id'];
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2  
It's return $this->contents;, right? – deceze Jul 23 '09 at 3:25
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2 Answers

up vote 3 down vote accepted

You should use the 2-line version. Unless you have a compelling reason to squash your code down, there's no reason not to have this intermediate value.

However, you could try something like 

$id = array_pop($i->getContents())
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How does array_pop know that it has to output 'id' ? – Ropstah Jun 9 '09 at 17:54
1  
array_pop will return the first element in the array, whether it's indexed numerically $x[0] or associatively $['id']. see php.net/array_pop for more on how it works. Now, if your class can do further manipulation to the private variable $contents then this may not be reliable, but based on what you have here array_pop will give you the contents of $contents['id'] – artlung Jun 9 '09 at 18:06
Ok well the class is a bit bigger then displayed :). I ended up creating a Item($index) function which returns the item. $i->getContents()->Item('id'); – Ropstah Jun 9 '09 at 18:32
1  
array_pop returns the LAST element, not the first. – Jleagle Oct 17 '11 at 15:41
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up vote 3 down vote

Keep it at two lines - if you have to access the array again, you'll have it there. Otherwise you'll be calling your function again, which will end up being uglier anyway.

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