PHP CLASS - Fatal error: Can't use method return value in write context

Question

<?php /* my function class */
class dbFunctions{
public  $dbHost  = "localhost", 
        $dbLogin = "root",
        $dbPwd   = "",
        $dbName  = "forex",
        $mysqli;

/* Create a new mysqli object with database connection parameters */
public function __construct(){
    $this->mysqli = new mysqli($this->dbHost, $this->dbLogin, $this->dbPwd , $this->dbName);
    if(mysqli_connect_errno()) {
        echo "Connection Failed: " . mysqli_connect_errno();
        exit();
    }
}
public function address(){
    if($stmt = $this->mysqli -> prepare("SELECT `email_content` FROM `content` WHERE `content_name`= ? ")) {
        $content = 'address';
        $stmt -> bind_param("s", $content);
        $stmt -> execute();
        $stmt -> bind_result($result);
        $stmt -> fetch();
        $stmt -> close();
        echo $result;
    }
}
}
$obj = new dbFunctions() ;
?>

<!-- MY FOOTER FILE WHERE I CALLED THE FUNCTION-->
     <div id="address">
        <a href="#" style="color:#fff; text-decoration:none;"> Contact Us:</a>
        <?php if(!empty($obj->address())){?><?php $obj->address();?>
        <?php }?>
    </div>

Fatal error: Can't use method return value in write context in C:\wamp\www\forex\includes\footer.html on line 3

Please help me out of this issue..I've searched a lot and have not found any solution.

possible duplicate of Can't use method return value in write context — Pupil
– Pupil, Commented Oct 4, 2013 at 7:33
please refer it to here: stackoverflow.com/questions/1075534/… — Pupil
– Pupil, Commented Oct 4, 2013 at 7:34

Benno Eggnauer · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-04 07:35:22Z

18

The problem is in the footer in line 3:

<?php if(!empty($obj->address())){?><?php $obj->address();?>

From the PHP manual:

Prior to PHP 5.5, empty() only supports variables; anything else will result in a parse error. In other words, the following will not work: empty(trim($name)). Instead, use trim($name) == false.

You have to set $obj->address() into its own variable, and test this variable with empty().

answered Oct 4, 2013 at 7:35

Benno Eggnauer

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Comments

zerokavn · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-04 07:37:39Z

0

function address() doesn't return anything, so you can't use empty($obj->address()) :

public function address(){
    if($stmt = $this->mysqli -> prepare("SELECT `email_content` FROM `content` WHERE `content_name`= ? ")) {
        $content = 'address';
        $stmt -> bind_param("s", $content);
        $stmt -> execute();
        $stmt -> bind_result($result);
        $stmt -> fetch();
        $stmt -> close();
        return $result;
    }
    return false;
}

and for the display:

<?php if(!empty($obj->address())){?><?php print_r($obj->address());?>

answered Oct 4, 2013 at 7:37

zerokavn

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4 Comments

Fleshgrinder Over a year ago

If a function is returning "nothing" it returns NULL so it's absolutely valid and perfect for empty(). But his PHP version is to low, so it won't work.

user2845577 Over a year ago

@Fleshgrinder - How can you say that my php version is low? Mine is 5.4.3 ,should i upgrade?

zerokavn Over a year ago

Correct, if you use "echo" in function address() instead of "return". The "empty" function won't work with 5.4.3, you must have 5.5 or higher.

user2845577 Over a year ago

@zerokavn - thumbs up! I'll upgrade test and reply!

Nes · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-04 07:38:50Z

0

See below:

<?php if(trim($obj->address()) != ''){?><?php $obj->address();?>

answered Oct 4, 2013 at 7:38

Nes

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