Passing a variable to its parent function in PHP? - php

Question

I have a function w/in a function, and I need the inner function to make it's variables available in a scope of parent function, e.g.:
function sayMyName(){
getName(); // inner function generates $name value
echo $name; // use $name
}
sayMyName();
I could easily just globalize things w/in both functions... But my situation is far more complicated and handles more variables and globalizing each one is a bit tedious.
Thanks.
PS
i noticed a lot of "return" suggestions. sorry i wasnt clear , i need to return more variables.. not a simple return. thanks guys

Answer 1

You may use $_GLOBALS, but it`s a "bad practice". So,
1: Use return:
<?php
function getName(){
$name = 'Smith';
return $name;
}
function sayMyName(){
$name = getName();
echo $name;
}
sayMyName();
?>
Shows:
Smith
2: Use references:
<?php
function getName(&$name){
$name = 'Smith';
}
function sayMyName(){
getName($name);
echo $name;
}
sayMyName();
?>
Shows:
Smith
3: Return array for multiple variables:
<?php
function getName(){
$surname = 'Smith';
$name = 'John';
return array($surname, $name);
}
function sayMyName(){
list($surname, $name) = getName();
echo $name, ' ', $surname;
}
sayMyName();
?>
Shows:
John Smith
4. Return custom object for multiple variables:
<?php
function getName(){
$surname = 'Smith';
$name = 'John';
$buffer = new stdClass();
$buffer->name = $name;
$buffer->surname = $surname;
return $buffer;
}
function sayMyName(){
$obj = getName();
echo $obj->name, ' ', $obj->surname;
}
sayMyName();
?>
Shows:
John Smith
5. Use anonymous function with use statement and references:
<?php
function sayMyName(){
$surname = $name = 'Unknown';
$temp = function() use (&$name, &$surname){
$surname = 'Smith';
$name = 'John';
};
$temp();
echo $name, ' ', $surname;
}
sayMyName();
?>
Shows:
John Smith

Answer 2

do this
function sayMyName(){
$name = getName(); // inner function generates $name value
echo $name; // results will be returned
}
sayMyName();
I hope your inner function is returning name like this
function getName(){
return $name;
}
then it will work

Answer 3

This is what the object oriented programming was designed for. If many functions should share variables, it is probably best to encapsulate them to class like this:
class WhateverDescibestYourViewOfTheWorld {
protected $name;
function __construct( $name)
{
$this->name = $name;
}
function GetName() {
return $this->name;
}
function SayName()
{
echo $this->name;
}
}
// And use it:
$o = new WhateverDescibestYourViewOfTheWorld();
...
$o->SayName();
Or you can build class which will be just used as data container:
class DataContainer {
public $name;
public $address;
// ...
}
// By reference this will modify object previously created
function GetProperties( &$dataContainer) // Note that & isn't necessary since PHP5
{
$dataContainer->name = "...";
}
$c = new DataContainer();
GetProperties($c);
Or you can simplify this and use array:
function GetProperties( array &$dataContainer)
{
$dataContainer['name'] = '...';
}
$data = array();
GetProperties($data);

Answer 4

What about first assigning the return value of getName() to a variable?
$name = getName();

Answer 5

If you only need one variable you can do this
function getName(){
// Some code
return 'my name is XXX';
}
function sayMyName(){
$name = getName(); // inner function generates $name value
echo $name; // results to undefined
}
sayMyName();
Otherwise you may consider using a class : http://www.php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.php

Answer 6

You can use references
$param = "aaa";
function f(&$param)
{
//dostuff
inner($param);
echo $param;
}
function inner(&$inner) { //do other stuff }
or use return value
function f() { echo inner(); }
function inner($param) {return $param;}
if you work on references, both functions will work on same variable, not on a copy
http://php.net/manual/en/language.references.php
the best way would be with class
<?php
class Person
{
private $name;
public function setName($name){ $this->name = $name;}
public function sayName() {echo $this->name;}
}
$person = new Person();
$person->setName("Robert");
$person->sayName();
It's good way to make it in OOP.

Answer 7

That what you are thinking is wrong, however you can return an array of values. For ex:
function sayMyName()
{
$result = getName(); // inner function creates an array
echo $result['name'];
}
or better an object:
class Results
{
public $name;
}
function sayMyName()
{
$result = getName(); // inner function creating an object
echo $result->name;
}

Answer 8

You can also do it as below.
$name = "";
function sayMyName(){
getName(); // inner function generates $name value
//set $name variable inside getName() function.
echo $name; // results to undefined
}
sayMyName();

Answer 9

Please use bellow code ,it will solve your problem
global $var;
You can use it anywhere within your php span.