Fetch array and element in same line

Question

I used this on my local server (XAMPP, latest version):

$num_entries = intval( mysqli_fetch_array( $result )[0] );

which worked fine but after deployment my host's PHP is saying:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '[' in /home/aaa/public_html/php/Database.php on line 38

I'm guessing this must be due to some retro-compatability issue.

My host is running PHP 5.3.28.

So what's the most efficient way of fetching an array and getting the first element in a single statement?

I don't think you can do it in one line.

putvande
– putvande

2014-08-25 14:56:24 +00:00
Commented Aug 25, 2014 at 14:56 — putvande
– putvande, Commented Aug 25, 2014 at 14:56
Do you need an array? mysqli_fetch_object($result)->{0}

jeroen
– jeroen

2014-08-25 14:58:36 +00:00
Commented Aug 25, 2014 at 14:58 — jeroen
– jeroen, Commented Aug 25, 2014 at 14:58

Jeff Lambert · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-25 15:05:07Z

4

That syntax is not legal in PHP 5.3, but it is in PHP 5.4 which introduced support for function array dereferencing.

The only option in 5.3 and below is to do it in 2 lines vs one.

$num_entries = mysqli_fetch_array( $result );
$num_entries = intval($num_entries[0]);

edited Aug 25, 2014 at 15:05

answered Aug 25, 2014 at 14:53

Jeff Lambert

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1 Comment

Juicy Over a year ago

Thanks for the attempted answer but I did mention that in my question. I'm asking for an efficient way of doing it, not why it isn't working! :) Ok for two lines then!

AbraCadaver · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-25 14:52:23Z

3

You are correct. De-referencing the return of a function as an array was added in 5.4.0.

$row = mysqli_fetch_array( $result );
$num_entries = intval( $row[0] );

answered Aug 25, 2014 at 14:52

AbraCadaver

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1 Comment

Juicy Over a year ago

But my query is SELECT COUNT(*) so there is only one row?

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