note 71541 added to language.variables.scope

Something to watch out for if you ever require/include files inside a function: == file1.php ======== <?php $a = 3; $b = 2; function add_them() { global $a, $b; echo $a + $b; } ?> == file2.php ======== <?php function do_it() { require ('file1.php'); add_them(); } ?> If you run file2.php, you would NOT get 5. Here's why. In file1.php, $a and $b are declared in the scope global to that file. However file2.php requires file1.php inside a function do_it(), so the variables are actually within the scope of the do_it() function. When add_them() is called and PHP encounters the line global $a, $b, there aren't any $a and $b variables in the global scope to import. Thus $a and $b are empty and $a + $b is 0. Best way to avoid this would be to avoid using globals, or not requiring/including files inside functions. ---- Server IP: 64.71.164.2 Probable Submitter: 68.202.68.182 ---- Manual Page -- http://www.php.net/manual/en/language.variables.scope.php Edit -- https://master.php.net/note/edit/71541 Del: integrated -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/71541/integrated Del: useless -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/71541/useless Del: bad code -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/71541/bad+code Del: spam -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/71541/spam Del: non-english -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/71541/non-english Del: in docs -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/71541/in+docs Del: other reasons-- https://master.php.net/note/delete/71541 Reject -- https://master.php.net/note/reject/71541 Search -- https://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php