Variables

[kardon33]

In php can u name a variable from the contents of another varible or array.

[mwasif]

Yes you can. This is called variable variable.

[Purple]

Hi kardon33,

Whilst you can, it doesn't have to mean you should..

I can't think of a good reason to do this.

I personally prefer to write code most other people can understand..

Some good reasons not to do this are you can't use variable variables within functions or class methods.

Just my thoughts..

Purple

[mwasif]

Some good reasons not to do this are you can't use variable variables within functions or class methods.

Are you sure about this?

PHP Manual says
Please note that variable variables cannot be used with PHP's Superglobal arrays within functions or class methods.

[pbmods]

Here's an example that I like to use a lot:

/**
*    __get
*
*    Generic accessor
*
*    @param string $var The name of the variable
*
*    @return mixed $this->my$var or $this->myData[$var]
*/
public function __get($var) {
    $target = ('my' . ucfirst($var = strtolower($var)));
    if(isset($this->$target))
        return $this->$target;
    return $this->myData[$var];
}