PHP Language - Returning a value from a function

Author

Returning a value from a function

Shawn Wilson

2005-09-28, 9:55 pm

Currently I have a function written that looks up a value from a database.
The basic function is like this:

function getval($id) {
<snip sql lookup part using $id>
$bob = 'stuff from sql';
return $bob;
}

In my calling code I have this:

$bob = getval('101');

My question is, do I have to assign the $bob variable in the calling
position? Can I just do this:

getval('101','bob');

....and somehow end up with the value already set to the $bob variable?

The point here is to have this function get certain control values from a
control table and set a corisponding variable. I want to end up with one
function that I can use to pull all my control values when I need them.

Can I get to this point:

getval('102','joe'); # then $joe equals something
getval('103','sam'); # then $sam equals something
getval('104','dave'); # then $dave equals something

without haveing to do this:

$joe = getval('102');

It's a small difference, but I'd like to do it if possible.

A thought was to use a session variable maybe, but that seems to have it's
own issues to me.

Thanks in advance!

--
Shawn Wilson

Colin McKinnon

2005-09-29, 7:55 am

Shawn Wilson wrote:

> Currently I have a function written that looks up a value from a database.
> The basic function is like this:
>
> function getval($id) {
> <snip sql lookup part using $id>
> $bob = 'stuff from sql';
> return $bob;
> }
>
> In my calling code I have this:
>
> $bob = getval('101');
>
>
> My question is, do I have to assign the $bob variable in the calling
> position? Can I just do this:
>
> getval('101','bob');
>
> ...and somehow end up with the value already set to the $bob variable?

Sort of, but a better way would be:

function getval($id, &$dest) // note $dest is prefixed by &
{
.....
$dest = 'stuff from sql';
}

getval('101',$bob);

C.

Hilarion

2005-09-29, 6:56 pm

> function getval($id) {
> <snip sql lookup part using $id>
> $bob = 'stuff from sql';
> return $bob;
> }
>
> In my calling code I have this:
>
> $bob = getval('101');
>
> [...]
>
> getval('102','joe'); # then $joe equals something
> getval('103','sam'); # then $sam equals something
> getval('104','dave'); # then $dave equals something

To set global variables:

$sth = array( 'joe' => '102', 'sam' => '103', 'dave' => '104' );
foreach( $sht as $var_name => $id )
$GLOBALS[ $var_name ] = getval( $id );

to set local variables:

$sth = array( 'joe' => '102', 'sam' => '103', 'dave' => '104' );
foreach( $sht as $var_name => $id )
$$var_name = getval( $id );

Hilarion

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