optional parameters

[Branden Wagner]

function optional arguements...
ok so... i looked on php.net and found that option parameters could be declared in functions like
function testing($var1, $var2 = 'test')
{
// your code
}

and this would make the $var2  optional.. but i cant get it to work on php5... am i doing something wrong.. or is there a different way to do it.

[doni49]

What you mean that it doesn't work?  Some kind of error?  I'm using php 5.x (not sure of the exact version) and it works for me.

Try this on for size:
[code]
<?php
function test($v1, $v2 = "Blank"){
  echo "<br />This is V1:  " . $v1;
  echo "<br />This is V2:  " . $v2;
}

test("Test1");
test("Test1", "Test2");
?>
[/code]

[JasonLewis]

i thought you just had to go like this:

[code]
function test($var1, $var2=""){
//execute code.
}
[/code]

then when you call the function you dont have to enter a value for $var2, if you dont want to.

[doni49]

I do believe THAT's what I did.  That's why I asked what made you think it didn't work.  Did you get some kind of error message?

The above code will display the following in the browser.

[quote]
This is V1:  Test1
This is V2:  Blank
This is V1:  Test1
This is V2:  Test2
[/quote]

[JasonLewis]

yes but you dont have to place the blank in there, is all i am saying. otherwise your setting the default value to blank. it would be easier to set it as nothing, UNLESS you need a default value. depends on what the function is for i guess.

[wildteen88]

If you want to make a variable optional you'll need to give it a default value. This is the only way to make optional parameters for functions.

[Barand]

if you want a variable number of parameters

[code]
<?php

function foo () {

    $n = func_num_args();
    $sum = 0;
    for ($i=0; $i < $n; $i++) {
        $sum += func_get_arg($i);
    }
    return $sum;
}
?>
[/code]

echo foo (1,2,3);  // --> 6

echo foo (1,2,3,4,5);  // --> 15