PHP global array not showing

Question

Consider the following function which fills an array with strings(questions):

global $questions;
function printQuestions($lines){
    $count = 1;
    foreach ($lines as $line_num => $line) {
        if($line_num%3 == 1){
            echo 'Question '.$count.':'.'<br/>'.'<input type="text" value="' . $line . '" class="tcs"/>'.'<br/>';
            $count++;
            $questions[] = $line;
        }
    }
}

The questions array is defined as global but it's not accessible outside the function. The following code block located at the bottom of the page returns nothing:

<?php
    if(isset($_POST['Submit'])){
        foreach($questions as $qs)
            echo $qs;   
        }
?>

I know I could use session variables but I'm interested in this particular problem regarding global variables. Any help is greatly appreciated.

using global is not a recommended practice, you could pass the values to the function just as you pass it $lines — user557846
– user557846, Commented Feb 14, 2012 at 19:55

rid · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-14 20:23:17Z

8

You should move global inside the function.

function printQuestions($lines){
    global $questions;
    // ...

The global keyword brings a global variable into local scope, so you can operate on it. If you don't use global in the printQuestions() function to bring the global $questions variable in the scope of the function, then $questions will be local and will be a different variable than the global one you're looking for.

edited Feb 14, 2012 at 20:23

answered Feb 14, 2012 at 19:46

rid

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Comments

Vijay Sharma · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-14 20:03:58Z

1

You can use global variables in PHP as $GLOBALS["foo"] so in your case inside the function replace $questions with $GLOBALS["questions"] and everything should work.

answered Feb 14, 2012 at 20:03

Vijay Sharma

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