PHP: variable not working inside of function?

Question

echo $path; //working
function createList($retval) {
 echo $path; //not working
 print "<form method='POST' action='' enctype='multipart/form-data'>";
 foreach ($retval as $value) {
 print "<input type='checkbox' name='deletefiles[]' id='$value' value='$value'>$value<br>";
 }
 print "<input class='submit' name='deleteBtn' type='submit' value='Datei(en) löschen'>";
 print "</form>"; 
}

what am I doing wrong? why is $path printed correctly outside of the createList function, but it's not accessible inside the function?

• Marius Schulz: Where is $path defined? Is it defined as global $path?

Answer 1

Because it's not defined in the function.

There are a few ways to go about this:

1) Use what Alex said by telling the function it is a global variable:

echo $path; // working
function createList($retval) {
 global $path;
 echo $path; // working
}

2) Define it as a constant:

define(PATH, "/my/test/path"); // You can put this in an include file as well.
 
echo PATH; // working
function createList($retval) {
 echo PATH; // working
}

3) Pass it into the function if it's specific to that function:

echo $path; // working
function createList($retval, $path) {
 echo $path; // working
}

Based on how the function really works, one of those will do ya.

Answer 2

If you want it to work, you should use global $path in the function, so it looks outside the function scope.

Please note that global variables are sent from hell :).

Answer 3

Cause $path inside createList() and outside it (in global scope) are two different variables. Read more about variable scope in PHP.

Answer 4

you must use the global modifier.

echo $path;
function createList($retval) {
 global path;
 echo $path; // works now :)

Answer 5

As an alternative to using a global variable, just pass $path in. Of course, if you don't need the variable inside the function, don't bother!

echo $path;
function createList($retval, $path) {
 echo $path;
 print "<form method='POST' action='' enctype='multipart/form-data'>";
 foreach ($retval as $value) {
 print "<input type='checkbox' name='deletefiles[]' id='$value' value='$value'>$value<br>";
 }
 print "<input class='submit' name='deleteBtn' type='submit' value='Datei(en) löschen'>";
 print "</form>"; 
}

Answer 6

Just use $GLOBALS['your variable name'] and use it anywhere in your function