send a php variable in a function to javascript troubleshoot - php

Question

i have the function get_path_dis() and i want to send the resultant to javascript and alert result. while opening the page the alert doesn't show. can someone tell me where am i mistaken
function get_path_dis($array){
//print_r($array);
$total = count($array);
$current = $array[0]['distance'];
$loop=0;
//get shortest distance
for($loop=1;$loop<$total;$loop++){
$next = $array[($loop)]['distance'];
if ($next<$current){
$current = $next;
//print_r('<pre>');
}
}
//shortest path array;
for($i=0;$i<$total;$i++){
if ($current==$array[$i]['distance'])
{
$xmlConv = $array[$i];
}
}
$x = json_encode($xmlConv);
?>
function get_path_dis($array){
//print_r($array);
$total = count($array);
$current = $array[0]['distance'];
$loop=0;
//get shortest distance
for($loop=1;$loop<$total;$loop++){
$next = $array[($loop)]['distance'];
if ($next<$current){
$current = $next;
//print_r('<pre>');
}
}
//shortest path array;
for($i=0;$i<$total;$i++){
if ($current==$array[$i]['distance'])
{
$xmlConv = $array[$i];
}
}
$x = json_encode($xmlConv);
?>
<script type="Javascript">
<!--
var
$json_val= "<?php echo($x);?>";
alert($json_val);
//-->
</script>

Answer 1

Needs to be encapsulated in php start and end tags.
alert('<?php echo json_val; ?>');