PHP NEWB Question

mistik · 06-23-2006, 11:16 PM

I am havbing trouble understanding the concepts of function arugments and multiple arguments

Could someone explain the meaning of them for me please. Are they variables that function can only use? Or are they placeholders for when the function is excuted? I am very new to php.(as-if you cant tell.)

psalzmann · 06-23-2006, 11:31 PM

A basic example of a function that accepts 2 arguments:

PHP Code:

  function my_math_function($number1, $number2)

{

      $result = ($number1+$number2);

      return $result;

}

Is your basic function to add 2 numbers together so you don't have to continously re-write the same addition function.

To use this, you would call it like this:

echo my_math_function(5, 5);

should ouput:

10

Regards,
Peter

**Eric** · 06-23-2006, 11:55 PM

www.php.net/manual/en/language.functions.php

mistik · 06-23-2006, 11:56 PM

so then the agurments is like a placeholder then?

psalzmann · 06-24-2006, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistik

so then the agurments is like a placeholder then?

Yes, basically you can have as many arguments as you desire.

Also, keep in mind you can have dummy arguments in place without having to use them:

Check it out:

function add_something($arg1, $arg2, $arg3 = '', $arg4 = '')
{
...
}

With that above, you are telling this function that you will always use argument $arg1 and $arg2 but $arg3 and $arg4 may or may not be used (notice how I assigned dummy blank values beside them?

Here is a perfect example:

PHP Code:

  function do_math($arg1, $arg2, $arg3 = '', $arg4 = '')

{

    if (isset($arg3) AND $arg3 == 'subtract')

    {

        $result = ($arg1-$arg2);

    }

    else if (isset($arg3) AND $arg3 == 'add')

    {

        $result = ($arg1+$arg2);

    }

    return $result;

}

$result = do_math(5, 2, 'subtract');
or you may need this:
$result = do_math(5, 2, 'add');

mistik · 06-24-2006, 12:10 AM

ok im getting it i thought they were like variables holding data when really they are just there to refer back to in the function, thanks for clearing that up for me psalzmann

06-23-2006, 11:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
mistik NamePros Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: new jersey Posts: 90 0.00 NP$ (Donate)	PHP NEWB Question I am havbing trouble understanding the concepts of function arugments and multiple arguments Could someone explain the meaning of them for me please. Are they variables that function can only use? Or are they placeholders for when the function is excuted? I am very new to php.(as-if you cant tell.) __________________ Plzlink.me - Shorter URLS Free Image and File Hosting Free Anonymous Email

06-23-2006, 11:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
psalzmann NamePros Regular Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 581 192.30 NP$ (Donate)	A basic example of a function that accepts 2 arguments: PHP Code: `function my_math_function($number1, $number2) { $result = ($number1+$number2); return $result; }` Is your basic function to add 2 numbers together so you don't have to continously re-write the same addition function. To use this, you would call it like this: echo my_math_function(5, 5); should ouput: 10 Regards, Peter __________________ ILance - Enterprise Auction Software : As Seen on CNN & Fox News - View Online Demo - PHP/MySQL - SEO ready \| 100% Customizable!

06-23-2006, 11:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
Eric NPQ's PA, Slave, and On Call Coder Technical Services Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4,545 0.71 NP$ (Donate)	www.php.net/manual/en/language.functions.php __________________

06-23-2006, 11:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
mistik NamePros Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: new jersey Posts: 90 0.00 NP$ (Donate)	so then the agurments is like a placeholder then? __________________ Plzlink.me - Shorter URLS Free Image and File Hosting Free Anonymous Email

06-24-2006, 12:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
mistik NamePros Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: new jersey Posts: 90 0.00 NP$ (Donate)	ok im getting it i thought they were like variables holding data when really they are just there to refer back to in the function, thanks for clearing that up for me psalzmann __________________ Plzlink.me - Shorter URLS Free Image and File Hosting Free Anonymous Email

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