RE: [PHP] Hashes in strings

Thanks for the replies peoples :-) -----Original Message----- From: Ford, Mike [LSS] [mailto:M.Ford@lmu.ac.uk] Sent: donderdag 2 mei 2002 11:13 To: 'Ferry van Steen'; php-general@lists.php.net Subject: RE: [PHP] Hashes in strings > -----Original Message----- > From: Ferry van Steen [mailto:ferry.van.steen@InfoPart.nl] > Sent: 02 May 2002 09:42 > > why do these work: > $vars = "vars"; > $ar[0] = "arrays"; > $hash['vars'] = "hashes"; > str = "I can use $vars in strings"; > str = "I can use $ar[0] in string"; > > while this one doesn't: > str = "I can NOT use $hash['vars'] in strings"; Because the string parser doesn't believe ' is a valid character as part of the "variable name" following a $. Fortunately, this is catered for by using braces to delimit your $-specification, thusly: $str = "I CAN use {$hash['vars']} in strings"; The {} notation can be used to delimit any $ specification, even simple ones in cases where you might otherwise have ambiguity. For example, this will work (even if ungrammatically!): echo "Today is the {$date}th of $month." where this won't: echo "Today is the $dateth of $month." I strongly recommend using {} if in any doubt -- it can't do any harm, and may just save you tearing your hair out looking for that elusive bug!! Cheers! Mike --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mike Ford, Electronic Information Services Adviser, Learning Support Services, Learning & Information Services, JG125, James Graham Building, Leeds Metropolitan University, Beckett Park, LEEDS, LS6 3QS, United Kingdom Email: m.ford@lmu.ac.uk Tel: +44 113 283 2600 extn 4730 Fax: +44 113 283 3211