note 41213 modified in language.variables.scope by danbrown

More on static variables: A static variable does not retain it's value after the script's execution. Don't count on it being available from one page request to the next; you'll have to use a database for that. Second, here's a good pattern to use for declaring a static variable based on some complex logic: <?php function buildStaticVariable() { $foo = null; // some complex expression or set of // expressions/statements to build // the return variable. return $foo; } function functionWhichUsesStaticVar() { static $foo = null; if($foo === null) $foo = buildStaticVariable(); // the rest of your code goes here. } ?> Using such a pattern allows you to separate the code that creates your default static variable value from the function that uses it. Easier to maintain code is good. :) --was-- More on static variables: My first not is probably intuitive to most, but I didn't notice it mentioned explicitly, so I'll mention it: a static variable does not retain it's value after the script's execution. Don't count on it being available from one page request to the next; you'll have to use a database for that. Second, here's a good pattern to use for declaring a static variable based on some complex logic: <? function buildStaticVariable() { $foo = null; // some complex expression or set of // expressions/statements to build // the return variable. return $foo; } function functionWhichUsesStaticVar() { static $foo = null; if($foo === null) $foo = buildStaticVariable(); // the rest of your code goes here. } ?> Using such a pattern allows you to separate the code that creates your default static variable value from the function that uses it. Easier to maintain code is good. :) http://php.net/manual/en/language.variables.scope.php