[SOLVED] Returning an array from a function

Ligx · #1 (**permalink**) 07-23-08, 11:13 AM

Possible to use the array returned from a function directly?

PHP Code:


			
<?
function getTypeDetails($id){
    $q = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM types WHERE type_id=$id LIMIT 1");
    $r = mysql_fetch_array($q);
    $a[0] = $id;
    $a[1] = $r["name"];
    return $a;
}
?>
<body>
<?=getTypeDetails($myid)[1]?>
</body>

Or do I have to set the var first ? Because the above obviously doesn't work.

PHP Code:


			
<?
$type = getTypeDetails($myid);
?>
<?=$type[1]?>

Nico · #2 (**permalink**) 07-23-08, 11:23 AM

You can't do it this way. You have to assign it to a variable first, UNLESS:

You just want to get the first or the last item of the array. Then you can do:

PHP Code:


			
echo current(getTypeDetails($myid)); // Shows first item
echo end(getTypeDetails($myid)); // Shows last item

... but if you're planning on using more than one of the items from the array, then I suggest signing it to variable first, because this way you don't have to call the function multiple times.

(In Javascript you can use this syntax, and I think it's very practical. I've seen quite a lot of people requesting this for PHP 6, so I guess we'll see what happens.)

Nico · #3 (**permalink**) 08-13-08, 12:30 PM

I just want to add a quick alternative way using Objects.

PHP Code:


			
function getTypeDetails($id)

{

    $query = mysql_query("

        SELECT `type_id` AS `id`, `name`

        FROM `types`

        WHERE `type_id` = $id

        LIMIT 1

    ");



    return mysql_fetch_object($query);

}



echo getTypeDetails(43)->id;

echo getTypeDetails(82)->name;