How to echo variable outside of a function? - php

Question

I have this code that echoes values from an array. I'd like to be able to echo the variable elsewhere in my code though. I've tried wrapping a function around it and echoing the function but I can't get anything to work. Here's the code that I have now...
function team(){
if ( ($items = field_get_items('entityform', $entityform, 'field_team_members')) ) {
$values = array_map($items, function($x) { return $x['value']; });
$comma_separated = implode(', ', $values);
foreach ($items as $item) {
$members = $prefix . $item['safe_value'];
$prefix = ', ';
echo $members;
}
}
}
If I simply do team(); it outputs nothing, as well as echo team();. What am I doing wrong here?

Answer 1

Your team function doesn't return anything which is why echo team(); doesn't print anything.
See the documentation on functions for more info: http://php.net/manual/en/functions.returning-values.php
function team(){
$output = '';
if ( ($items = field_get_items('entityform', $entityform, 'field_team_members')) ) {
$values = array_map($items, function($x) { return $x['value']; });
$comma_separated = implode(', ', $values);
$prefix = '';
$members = '';
foreach ($items as $item) {
$members .= $prefix . $item['safe_value'];
$prefix = ', ';
}
$output = $members;
}
return $output;
}

Answer 2

To clarify what i wrote as a comment, i just created a small script:
<?php
function team () {
$string = "hi";
return $string;
}
echo team();

Answer 3

Functions cant work unless until they are called, so you have to call team(); in some way, once called it will for sure display what ever you are trying to echo. Also above function will not display anything unless you force fully exit in that function. Or return some value.