PHP Function name must be a string error on new variable

Question

I am getting the error:

Function name must be a string on this code:

$profile_data = $user_data('first_name','last_name','email');

Any ideas why this could be?

Spurious $ before user_data? With the dollar sign this syntax is calling a variable function. — Jon
– Jon, Commented Oct 11, 2012 at 12:43
Your variable is likely an array. What were you trying to accomplish with that specific line? — mario
– mario, Commented Oct 11, 2012 at 12:43
Please add the full error message to your question. Also please provide what var_dump($user_data); outputs if you place it exactly above that line. A related section in the PHP manual is called Variable Functions and might shed some light, too. What is the function (name?) you wanted to call? — hakre
– hakre, Commented Oct 11, 2012 at 12:44
Possible duplicate of: stackoverflow.com/q/2966129/367456; stackoverflow.com/q/1611709/367456; stackoverflow.com/q/4093305/367456; stackoverflow.com/q/4859228/367456 and many other similar. You need to provide more information (see the var_dump etc) otherwise it's hard to say what exactly causes the error. — hakre
– hakre, Commented Oct 11, 2012 at 12:50
if $user_data was defined in another function you may need to call it into scope. 'global $user_data;' I just had this issue with $smcFunc['db_query'](...SQL here...) while working in Simple Machines. It gave me the same error on that line because without being called into scope, $smcFunc looks a lot like a function. — bennett_an
– bennett_an, Commented Feb 22, 2014 at 1:37

newfurniturey · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-11 12:44:25Z

5

While you can use variables as function-names, to do so requires the variable to be a string.

The variable $user_data sounds more like an array, or even possibly an object. If this is true, you will receive the error specified. Per the comment from @Jon, it could also be possible that user_data() is a method and the $ is a typo.

If none-of-the-above helps, please all relevant code, specifically the creation of the $user_data variable (or a var_dump($user_data) output).

answered Oct 11, 2012 at 12:44

newfurniturey

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7 Comments

Jon Over a year ago

If $user_data was a variable the syntax would not be even close to legal. So it's not very likely that it is one.

hakre Over a year ago

Yes at least this is sort of guessing and providing a test-try answer.

newfurniturey Over a year ago

@Jon I've used variables as function names plenty of times; function test() { } $var = 'test'; $var(); will work perfectly fine.

Jon Over a year ago

@newfurniturey: Me too. But if that was the case here this question would not have been asked in the first place.

newfurniturey Over a year ago

@Jon Check out codepad.org/3OXjXNy9 - same syntax as the OP and same error (minus the line-number, of course). Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're saying (which is very-well possible too =P).

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Dilip Godhani · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-11 12:45:59Z

0

in php function define following

$profileData =  user_date('first_name','last_name','email');



function user_date($first_name,$last_name,$email){
}

answered Oct 11, 2012 at 12:45

Dilip Godhani

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