trying to use PHP extract() within a function

Question

I have the two following files:

main.php

include("functions.php")  
__EXTRACT();  
echo $testvar;

functions.php

function __EXTRACT(){
extract($_POST, EXTR_SKIP);
}

However, having a form with a textbox called testvar I can't get the extract function to extract the data.. if I remove the function call and insert it the extract statement directly into main.php it works. The include is not a problem as other functions in it works. Any ideas?

Cheers

Matteo Riva · Accepted Answer · 2010-06-16 14:20:57Z

3

You can't do that: in your case extract() creates variables inside the __EXTRACT() function, when the function ends those variables are gone.

Anyway using extract() is very rarely a good idea.

answered Jun 16, 2010 at 14:20

Matteo Riva

25.1k13 gold badges75 silver badges105 bronze badges

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

4 Comments

grandnasty Over a year ago

Thanks, but is there any way to do it, so it would create the variable outside the function?

Matteo Riva Over a year ago

Use extract() directly or, better, use values from $_POST without extracting them.

grandnasty Over a year ago

Hehe, I know that $_POST usage is the best, but this is for rapid prototyping, just wanted to know if it was possible. Thanks again.

Henrik Erlandsson Over a year ago

Extract is very good for small projects or prototyping, or anywhere where you have limited data/few columns in your database. EXTR_PREFIX_ALL used with the record name is excellent to solve variable name conflicts. There's no reason why extract() couldn't have an EXTR_DECLARE GLOBAL flag to allow its use inside functions, in my opinion. In the PHP manual for extract() you will see for which arrays it's dangerous to use - for all others, it's a nice and powerful function.

ircmaxell · Accepted Answer · 2010-06-16 14:36:45Z

0

You don't want to do this. This is basically just emulating register_globals inside of PHP. There's a reason it has been off by default for years, and is being removed in 6...

answered Jun 16, 2010 at 14:36

ircmaxell

166k36 gold badges269 silver badges316 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

trying to use PHP extract() within a function

2 Answers 2

4 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

4 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related