PHP default argument function call

Question

In php we can pass default arguments to a function like so

function func_name(arg1,arg2=4,etc...) {

but to my understanding we can not pass a function call so this is illegal:

function func2_name(arg1,arg2=time(),etc...) {

so when I want to do a function value (imagine like the time function the value cant be known ahead of runtime) I have to do a kind of messy work around like so:

function func3_name(arg1,arg2=null,etc...) {
    if(arg2==null) arg2 = time();

I was wondering if anyone knows a better way, a cleaner way to pass in function call values as default arguments in php? Thanks.

Also is there any fundamental reason in php language design that it doesn't allow function calls as default arguments (like does it do something special in the preprocessing?) or could this become a feature in future versions?

Take a look at this similar question for alternatives.

jeffjenx
– jeffjenx

2012-06-11 19:38:29 +00:00
Commented Jun 11, 2012 at 19:38 — jeffjenx
– jeffjenx, Commented Jun 11, 2012 at 19:38

Connor Peet · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-11 19:37:51Z

15

Well, the short answer is that there is no better way to do it, to my knowledge. You can, however, make it look somewhat neater by using ternary operators.

function func3_name(arg1,arg2=null,etc...) {
  arg2 = (arg2==null ? time() : arg2);
}

answered Jun 11, 2012 at 19:37

Connor Peet

6,2833 gold badges24 silver badges32 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Devin Crossman Over a year ago

i think you mean arg2 = (arg2==null) ? time() : arg2;

Henry · Accepted Answer · 2017-04-12 03:42:21Z

4

Connor is 100% correct; however, as of PHP 7, you can now use the null coalesce operator.

i.e.

$arg2 = $arg2 ?? time();

Just a shorter, arguably cleaner, way to write it.

answered Apr 12, 2017 at 3:42

Henry

5744 silver badges22 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

PHP default argument function call

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related