Simple PHP If Statement error

Question

I have a very simple IF statement...

if ($key == "listingURL" or 
     $key == "interiorColor" or 
     $key == "engine" or 
     $key == "transmission" or 
     $key == "stockNumber" or 
     $key == "VIN") {
          // Do thing
}

But I'm receiving an error...

[23-Apr-2015 13:12:01 UTC] PHP Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_VARIABLE in xxx on line xxx

Which is this line...

 $key == "stockNumber" or

Is there a limit to the maximum amount of OR's, or am I missing something staring me right in the face?

One suggestion: Use in_array or something else to check a value of a variable against multiple values: $values = array( 'listingURL', 'interiorColor'); if ( in_array( $key, $values) ) { //do stuff — Florian
– Florian, Commented Apr 23, 2015 at 13:21
@SoWizardly an additional edit was made to my answer in regards to plugins — Funk Forty Niner
– Funk Forty Niner, Commented Apr 23, 2015 at 13:59

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 11:46:24Z

22

"Is there a limit to the maximum amount of OR's, or am I missing something staring me right in the face?"

No there isn't. The reason is because you have a hidden character:

$key == "transmission" or ? <= right there

enter image description here

Which is 

Being a Unicode ZERO WIDTH NO-BREAK SPACE character.

Rewrite:

if ($key == "listingURL" or 
     $key == "interiorColor" or 
     $key == "engine" or 
     $key == "transmission" or
     $key == "stockNumber" or 
     $key == "VIN") {
          // Do thing
}

Sidenotes:

As from the comments:

I'll confirm this as the correct answer as soon as the time limit is up! Thank you so much for the help. I use Sublime Text 3, is there some easy way to detect these hidden characters? – SoWizardly 19 mins ago

For Notepad++ there is a plugin called: HEX-Editor.

You can download it via: Extensions -> Plugin Manager -> Available. Just check the combo box for HEX-Editor and click install. After this you can change your file view to hexadecimal.

For Sublime Text there is also a plugin, which does the same.

edited May 23, 2017 at 11:46

CommunityBot

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answered Apr 23, 2015 at 13:22

Funk Forty Niner

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14 Comments

SoWizardly Over a year ago

I'll confirm this as the correct answer as soon as the time limit is up! Thank you so much for the help. I use Sublime Text 3, is there some easy way to detect these hidden characters?

Funk Forty Niner Over a year ago

@SoWizardly Well, I use Notepad++ and that came up as an Unicode. I have never used Sublime, but there's probably an viewing option in it.

Funk Forty Niner Over a year ago

@BeatAlex strangely enough, I started off with regular Notepad, noticed the little square at the end of the line, slapped into Notepad++ and also my HTML page editor to confirm.

Funk Forty Niner Over a year ago

@SoWizardly I found this Q&A stackoverflow.com/q/20356784 and packagecontrol.io/packages/Unicode%20Character%20Highlighter and stackoverflow.com/a/20999477 - there were more links while Googling "how to detect unicode characters with sublime". I hope it helps.

SoWizardly Over a year ago

@Fred-ii- Thanks for all your help! I was having some issues getting a .csv file importer to work, and it looks like that character came from me copy+pasting...which lead me to realize that's what was causing the problem...I ended up finding a nice PHP script that strips these characters from strings, and now everything works as intended!

|

Rex Rex · Accepted Answer · 2015-04-23 13:23:47Z

2

When i copy in other editor i get this remove it near stock number ? <=

if ($key == "listingURL" or 
     $key == "interiorColor" or 
     $key == "engine" or 
     $key == "transmission" or 
     $key == "stockNumber" or ? <=
     $key == "VIN") {
          // Do thing
}

answered Apr 23, 2015 at 13:23

Rex Rex

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Comments

Meenesh Jain · Accepted Answer · 2015-04-23 13:25:28Z

0

try something like this

$arr = array("listingURL","interiorColor","engine","transmission","stockNumber","VIN");
if(in_array($key, $arr))
{
   // do something 
}

this is much more effective way of doing things

answered Apr 23, 2015 at 13:25

Meenesh Jain

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Comments

Florian · Accepted Answer · 2015-04-23 13:26:56Z

0

Copy of comment: One suggestion: Use in_array or something else to check a value of a variable against multiple values:

$values = array( 'listingURL', 'interiorColor');
if ( in_array( $key, $values) ) { //do stuff

answered Apr 23, 2015 at 13:26

Florian

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Comments

Rex U · Accepted Answer · 2015-04-23 13:43:31Z

0

Remove Unwanted characters from $key == "transmission" or ? <=

? <=` This causes the problem

answered Apr 23, 2015 at 13:43

Rex U

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