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Passing multiple parameters to a method in PHP

Answer 1

+8 A:

You can't. Think about it, if you could do that, how would PHP be able to tell if the third argument is supposed to be the $notreq, $notreq2 or $notreq3? A less hackish way would be:

Test($req, $alsoreq, NULL, NULL, $notreq3);

As you are making it clear that the first two optional args are NULL.

Choose the orders of arguments wisely, so the ones that get used more often come first.
Alternatively, you can use an array:

public function Test($req, $alsoreq, array $notreq) { ... }

// no optional args
Test($req, $alsoreq);

$optional = array('arg1' => 'something', 'arg2' => 'something else');
Test($req, $alsoreq, $optional);

$optional = array('arg3' => 'hello');
Test($req, $alsoreq, $optional);

NullUserException 2010-10-02 15:32:14

Was going to submit my answer, but I refreshed the page just to check if you edited yours. Alas, you have ;) +1

BoltClock 2010-10-02 15:39:41

If you're going to do this, you might as well have Test take only one parameter — an array.

Paul Schreiber 2010-10-02 15:40:57

I see... thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, i guess i'll stick to what i was doing, since it's much simpler to treat inside the class.

Vinny 2010-10-02 15:40:58

Do you guys know if this is somehow wrong accordingly to the Zend PHP Best Practices?

Vinny 2010-10-02 15:41:33

@Vinny, what's considered wrong practice is somewhat of a moot point with PHP, seeing as the language itself isn't very consistent. I used to struggle with such questions, but after working with other languages, I've let go of my guilt and just accepted that, I'm the one working around PHP's limitations. In Python for example you can do this with ease. But PHP doesn't embrace a specific way, some people code as in Java, others as in Perl and others yet as in Python. I suspect the pythonists would be more incline to adopt the implementation showcased in this answer.

mike 2010-10-02 16:16:44

Answer 2

+1 A:

There seem to be no way. As written in php manual:

Note that when using default arguments, any defaults should be on the right side of any non-default arguments; otherwise, things will not work as expected.

You are trying to put non-default value (notreq3) on the right of default (notreq2, notreq1). Ugly and hackish way is likely to be more correct.

Regards, Serge

zserge 2010-10-02 15:36:30

Thanks man. Do you know if this is against the PHP best practices?

Vinny 2010-10-02 15:41:50

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Passing multiple parameters to a method in PHP

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