SOFT7008
Server Side Programming
PHP-06
Functions & Parameters
Functions can modularise code
function starburst()
{
echo "*";
echo "*";
echo "*";
• A function can be used to echo "*";
package a chunk of code so that echo "*";
it can be reused
echo "*";
echo "*";
echo "*";
• In this situation it's as if the code echo "*";
was just copied and pasted echo "*";
echo "*";
echo "*";
echo "<br/>";
}
Functions can modularise code
• A function can be used to function hashburst($number)
package a chuck of code so that {
it can be reused
for ($i=1; $i<=$number; $i++)
{
• In this situation it's as if the code
echo "#";
was just copied and pasted
}
• Modularised code can user echo "<br/>";
parameters }
Functions can modularise code
function stringburst($txt,$number)
{
for ($i=1; $i<=$number; $i++)
{
echo $txt;
}
echo "<br/>";
}
• A function can have several parameters
Functions as statements
echo "Hello"
• In the code the function can appear
like a statement
stringburst("Ho", 7);
echo "Goodbye";
• It can DO something
Returning Values
function averageof2 ($num1, $num2)
• A function can return a value $answer = ($num1 + $num2)/2;
return $answer;
}
Returning Values
function averageof2 ($num1, $num2)
{
• A function can return a value
$answer = ($num1 + $num2)/2;
• A function that returns a values
doesn't do something, it becomes return $answer;
something
}
echo averageof2 (12,6) + 10;
Returning Values
function averageof2 ($num1, $num2)
{
• A function can return a value
$answer = ($num1 + $num2)/2;
• A function that returns a values
doesn't do something, it becomes return $answer;
something
} this becomes a number
echo averageof2 (12,6) + 10;
Doing or Becoming
• As a general rule a function should either do something or become
something
• It is poor practice to mix and match
• Functions that evaluate to something should not have side effects
Parmeter Scope
function averageof2 ($num1, $num2)
{
• The scope of variables declared in a
function does not extend beyond $answer = ($num1 + $num2)/2;
the function
return $answer;
• They don't exist outside the function
}
echo averageof2 (12,6) + 10;
Parmeter Scope
function oneless ($number)
{
• Changes made to parameters with
the function have no effect outside it
$number = $number -1;
• The function works with a copy of it
return $number;
}
function oneless ($number)
$number = $number -1;
• Changes made to parameters within
the function have no effect outside it
return $number;
• The function works with a copy of it
}
• Here $x is passed in as a parameter
$x = 19;
• It is changed inside the function
echo $x; 19
• But outside it is unharmed echo oneless ($x); 18
echo $x; 19
Passing Variables by Value
• When a parameter is passed to a function a copy is made of it
• Changes made to the variable inside the function have no effect on the
original variable value
• This is called passing variables by value
• This is the default in PHP
Passing Variables by Reference
• When a parameter is passed to a function it deals with the original variable
• Changes inside the function are made to the original variable
• This is called passing variables by reference
• This is can be done in PHP by using & in the function declaration
• This should be used with caution
function subtractone (&$number)
• Changes made to parameters within
$number = $number -1;
the function affect the original value
outside it
return $number;
• The function works with the original
assed variable
}
• Here $x is passed in as a parameter
$x = 19;
• It is changed inside the function
echo $x; 19
• and those changes take effect outside echo subtractone ($x); 18
also
echo $x; 18
