PHP: Evaluating variable in string, and then changing value of variable

Question

I have a string such as the following:

$s1 = "Apples";
$s2 = "$s1 are great";
echo $s2;

My understanding of PHP is that the double-quotes in the second line will cause $s1 to be evaluated within the string, and the output will be

Apples are great

However, what if I wanted to keep $s2 as a "template" where I change $s1's value and then re-evaluate it to get a new string? Is something like this possible? For example:

$s1 = "Apples";
$s2 = "$s1 are great";
echo $s2 . "\n";

$s1 = "Bananas";
$s3 = "$s2";
echo $s3 . "\n";

I find that the output for the following is:

Apples are great 
Apples are great

What I am hoping to get is more like:

Apples are great 
Bananas are great

Is such a thing possible with PHP where I can keep the "template" string the same, change the input variables, and then reevaluate to a new string? Or is this not possible with PHP?

Not sure if you would find this satisfactory, but you could use sprintf("%s are great", "Apples"); — mobius
– mobius, Commented Jun 27, 2012 at 7:35
The same question for JavaScript: If a variable is defined in terms of another, can it reflect changes in the binding of the other?. — Sebastian Simon
– Sebastian Simon, Commented Nov 20, 2022 at 6:20

OptimusCrime · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-27 07:35:49Z

2

Well, you could do something like this: (just a quick mashup).

$template = "{key} are great";
$s1 = "Apples";
$s2 = "Bananas";

echo str_replace('{key}',$s1,$template) . "\n";
echo str_replace('{key}',$s2,$template) . "\n";

answered Jun 27, 2012 at 7:35

OptimusCrime

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PazsitZ · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-27 07:47:35Z

1

You can try use anonymous function (closure) for similar result: (only above PHP 5.3!)

$s1 = function($a) { 
    return $a . ' are great';
};

echo $s1('Apples');
echo $s1('Bananas');

answered Jun 27, 2012 at 7:47

PazsitZ

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Fluffeh · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-27 07:59:34Z

0

You can also use reference passing (though it is much more commonly used in functions when you want the original modified):

<?php

$s4 = " are great";
$s1 = "Apples";
$s2 = &$s1;

echo $s2.$s4;

$s1 = "Bananas";
$s3 = $s2;
echo $s3.$s4;

?>

Output:

Apples are great
Bananas are great

answered Jun 27, 2012 at 7:59

Fluffeh

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