Default associative array value in PHP

Question

I'm just wondering if its possible to have something like this:

$image = array(

"default" => "test.jpg",
"width" => 400,
"height" => 500

);

Then you could call:

echo $image // test.jpg
echo $image['width'] // 400

Thanks, Matt Mueller

Galen · Accepted Answer · 2009-11-21 00:09:14Z

9

No, image is an array so it will echo array()

You can however do this with __toString

class image {

    private $defaultImage = 'test.jpg';

    function __toString() {
        return $this->defaultImage;
    }

}

$image = new image;
$image->height = 400;

echo $image; // test.jpg
echo $image->height; //400

answered Nov 21, 2009 at 0:09

Galen

30.2k9 gold badges75 silver badges90 bronze badges

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

2 Comments

Franz Over a year ago

Good idea. Would it even be possible to create a subclass of ArrayObject which reads the string for __toString() from the array field with the key default?

Chris Over a year ago

Franz has the best solution for what you want.

Franz · Accepted Answer · 2009-11-21 00:05:18Z

2

Simple answer: No, that's not possible. The only thing that's somewhat similar is using PHP's weak type system and assigning the default value to the array as string until you initialize the array - but I'm not sure that's what you want.

answered Nov 21, 2009 at 0:05

Franz

11.6k8 gold badges52 silver badges72 bronze badges

2 Comments

meder omuraliev Over a year ago

I concur, would not advise trying to do this. Stick with $image['default'] and keep it an array.

Franz Over a year ago

Well, that doesn't really matter anyways, since what Matt wants to do isn't possible - having returned the value of the default key when just calling the array.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Default associative array value in PHP

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

2 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related