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Short array syntax finally in PHP 5.4

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Re: Short array syntax finally in PHP 5.4

#11

Post by whiskers »

barredo wrote: post #7

Now if only when a function returns an array we needn't a variable... function boo(){ return array(1,2,3) } echo boo()[1];

It's not quite what you're asking for, but there is a way to handle array results from functions where you know the number of elements that will be returned.

For example:

// explode splits the string on the provided boundary

// and returns an array containing each segment.

// using list() we can assign the two segments to two

// variables within the same statement

$size = "1000x1000";

list( $width, $height ) = explode( "x", $size );

Re: Short array syntax finally in PHP 5.4

#12

Post by nbpoole »

With the removal of bad legacy features like register_globals, magic_quotes_gpc, and safe_mode combined with new features like array de-referencing and traits, I'm really excited for PHP 5.4. :)

For anyone who's curious, here's a list of the changes in 5.4 alpha 1: http://www.php.net/releases/NEWS_5_4_0_alpha1.txt

Re: Short array syntax finally in PHP 5.4

#13

Post by barredo »

nbpoole wrote: post #10
barredo wrote: post #7

Now if only when a function returns an array we needn't a variable... function boo(){ return array(1,2,3) } echo boo()[1];

http://svn.php.net/viewvc?view=revision&revision=300266 http://www.php.net/archive/2011.php#id2011-06-28-1 It's in PHP 5.4 alpha as well ;)

Thanks!

Re: Short array syntax finally in PHP 5.4

#14

Post by andrewvc »

whiskers wrote: post #11
barredo wrote: post #7

Now if only when a function returns an array we needn't a variable... function boo(){ return array(1,2,3) } echo boo()[1];

It's not quite what you're asking for, but there is a way to handle array results from functions where you know the number of elements that will be returned. For example: // explode splits the string on the provided boundary // and returns an array containing each segment. // using list() we can assign the two segments to two // variables within the same statement $size = "1000x1000"; list( $width, $height ) = explod…

Ah yes, I love nothing more than functions on the left side of assignment.

Edit: Yes, it is a special form, but its still irregular, and that makes it shitty.

Re: Short array syntax finally in PHP 5.4

#15

Post by abarrett »

andrewvc wrote: post #14
whiskers wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not quite what you're asking for, but there is a way to handle array results from functions where you know the number of elements that will be returned. For example: // explode splits the string on the provided boundary // and returns an array containing each segment. // using list() we can assign the two segments to two // variables within the same statement $size = "1000x1000"; list( $width, $height ) = explod…

Ah yes, I love nothing more than functions on the left side of assignment. Edit: Yes, it is a special form, but its still irregular, and that makes it shitty.

http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.list.php

It's a language construct, not a function.

Re: Short array syntax finally in PHP 5.4

#16

Post by abarrett »

paradoja wrote: post #6
nknight wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Uh, why wouldn't [[4, 5, 6], [7, 8, 9], [10, 11, 12]] work? I know PHP has a weird history of rebelling against its C-family-syntax heritage, but requiring the syntax in your example would seem specifically calculated just to make developers' lives harder.

Well, arrays start with index 0, so if the indexes where 1 less it would be the same. Your example would be equivalent to [0 => [4, 5, 6], 1 => [7, 8, 9], 2 => [10, 11, 12]]

In addition, you only need to specify the first key to create a one-based array. Indexing will carry on from there.

    [1 => [4, 5, 6], [7, 8, 9], [10, 11, 12]]

Re: Short array syntax finally in PHP 5.4

#18

Post by gdulli »

My big complaint about arrays wasn't declaring them. It was the endless array functions you have to use afterwards.

array_push

array_pop

array_slice

array_shift

array_unshift

array_map

array_key_exists

It kind of feels like they missed the point, saving 5 characters when you declare the array once, ignoring all of the other operations you do afterwards.

And this RFC, simple as it is, took 3.5 years to come to fruition.

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