CODEWITHSUNDEEP
phparrays
user1919
user1919

Reputation: 3938

How to return an array from a function to the main script

I wrote the following code in order to find the newest files added in three different folders. I have stored the directories of the folders in an array called path. I also store the names of the newest files in another array. 

$path[0] = "/Applications/MAMP/htdocs/php_test/check";
$path[1] = "/Applications/MAMP/htdocs/php_test/check2";
$path[2] = "/Applications/MAMP/htdocs/php_test/check3";

for ($i=0; $i<=2; $i++){

$path_last = $path[$i]; // set the path
$latest_ctime = 0;
$latest_filename = '';    

 $d = dir($path_last);
while (false !== ($entry = $d->read())) {
  $filepath = "{$path_last}/{$entry}";
  if (is_file($filepath) && filectime($filepath) > $latest_ctime) {
$latest_ctime = filectime($filepath);
$latest_filename = $entry;
$array[$i] = $latest_filename ; // assign the names of the latest files in an array.
   }
  }

Everything works fine but now I try to put the same code in a function and call it in my main script. I use this code in order to call it:

   include 'last_file.php'; // Include the function last_file
   $last_file = last_file();  // assign to the function a variable and call the function

I am not sure if this is correct. What I want to do is to return the array in my main script .. I hope it's clear here what I am trying to explain. Thanks D.

This is the last_file function:

    function last_file(){

        for ($i=0; $i<=2; $i++){

     $path_last = $path[$i]; // set the path
      $latest_ctime = 0;
       $latest_filename = '';    

      $d = dir($path_last);
     while (false !== ($entry = $d->read())) {
      $filepath = "{$path_last}/{$entry}";
      // could do also other checks than just checking whether the entry is a file
       if (is_file($filepath) && filectime($filepath) > $latest_ctime) {
        $latest_ctime = filectime($filepath);
        $latest_filename = $entry;
     $array[$i] = $latest_filename ; // assign the names of the latest files in an   array.
        }
      }

    return $array;

      }//end loop
      }//end function

Upvotes: 0

Views: 59

Answers (2)

FtDRbwLXw6
FtDRbwLXw6

Reputation: 28891

You are confusing a function with a file. Your code is put in files. Within those files, you can define functions:

<?php
// This is inside last_file.php

function someFunction {
    // Do stuff.
}

To use someFunction() in another file, you first include last_file.php and then call someFunction():

<?php
// This is inside some other file.

include 'last_file.php';

someFunction();

Upvotes: 2

Idiot211
Idiot211

Reputation: 848

If you put it in a function, you need to return it like so.

function func_name()
{
$path[0] = "/Applications/MAMP/htdocs/php_test/check";
$path[1] = "/Applications/MAMP/htdocs/php_test/check2";
$path[2] = "/Applications/MAMP/htdocs/php_test/check3";

for ($i=0; $i<=2; $i++){

$path_last = $path[$i]; // set the path
$latest_ctime = 0;
$latest_filename = '';    

 $d = dir($path_last);
while (false !== ($entry = $d->read())) {
  $filepath = "{$path_last}/{$entry}";
  if (is_file($filepath) && filectime($filepath) > $latest_ctime) {
$latest_ctime = filectime($filepath);
$latest_filename = $entry;
$array[$i] = $latest_filename ; // assign the names of the latest files in an array.
return $array;
}

Then when you call that function and assign it to a variable you will get the contents of $array

$contentsFromFunction = func_name();

Upvotes: 1

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