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1

I am getting the error:

Function name must be a string on this code:

$profile_data = $user_data('first_name','last_name','email');

Any ideas why this could be?

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4  
Spurious $ before user_data? With the dollar sign this syntax is calling a variable function. –  Jon Oct 11 '12 at 12:43
 
Your variable is likely an array. What were you trying to accomplish with that specific line? –  mario Oct 11 '12 at 12:43
 
Please add the full error message to your question. Also please provide what var_dump($user_data); outputs if you place it exactly above that line. A related section in the PHP manual is called Variable Functions and might shed some light, too. What is the function (name?) you wanted to call? –  hakre Oct 11 '12 at 12:44
 
Possible duplicate of: stackoverflow.com/q/2966129/367456; stackoverflow.com/q/1611709/367456; stackoverflow.com/q/4093305/367456; stackoverflow.com/q/4859228/367456 and many other similar. You need to provide more information (see the var_dump etc) otherwise it's hard to say what exactly causes the error. –  hakre Oct 11 '12 at 12:50

3 Answers

up vote 3 down vote accepted

While you can use variables as function-names, to do so requires the variable to be a string.

The variable $user_data sounds more like an array, or even possibly an object. If this is true, you will receive the error specified. Per the comment from @Jon, it could also be possible that user_data() is a method and the $ is a typo.

If none-of-the-above helps, please all relevant code, specifically the creation of the $user_data variable (or a var_dump($user_data) output).

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If $user_data was a variable the syntax would not be even close to legal. So it's not very likely that it is one. –  Jon Oct 11 '12 at 12:45
 
Yes at least this is sort of guessing and providing a test-try answer. –  hakre Oct 11 '12 at 12:46
 
@Jon I've used variables as function names plenty of times; function test() { } $var = 'test'; $var(); will work perfectly fine. –  newfurniturey Oct 11 '12 at 12:46
2  
@newfurniturey: Me too. But if that was the case here this question would not have been asked in the first place. –  Jon Oct 11 '12 at 12:47
 
@Jon Check out codepad.org/3OXjXNy9 - same syntax as the OP and same error (minus the line-number, of course). Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're saying (which is very-well possible too =P). –  newfurniturey Oct 11 '12 at 12:51
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up vote 0 down vote

In PHP you can call functions iwthout the $.

Example:

function foobar($baz) {
    return $baz;
}

$returnvalue = foobar("foo");

But you also can dynamically call functions based on its name in a string.

function foobar($baz) {
    return $baz;
}

$name = "foobar";

$returnvalue = $name("foobar");

I assume that your $user_data is not a string and therefore your code produces an error.

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up vote 0 down vote

in php function define following

$profileData =  user_date('first_name','last_name','email');



function user_date($first_name,$last_name,$email){
}
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