PHP variable variables (CodeIgniter)

Question

I have a products detail page and I need to be able to call the appropriate work area from the database. My columns are called: ils1275_work_area, ils975_work_area, etc.

All I need are a couple of words, so I am only returning a row. Ordinarily to call the column with my SQL, I would do (in CodeIgniter):

function get_misc($item) 
{   
    $this->db->select($item);
    $this->db->where('lang', 'en');
    return $this->db->get('all_misc')->row();
}

And then in my PHP I would echo $row->ils1275_work_area. Since on a single products detail page for multiple products, I need more flexibility than that, I need to do something like:

$row->{$laser}_work_area

But that doesn't work. (I am supplying the value for $laser in my controller). What syntax should I use?

Answer 1

Try forming the name of the variable as its own variable:

$workArea = "{$laser}_work_area";
$val = $row->$workArea;

Answer 2

I believe the syntax you want is

$row->${$laser.'_work_area'};