[thelist] PHP, functions, include() and precedence

[Ken Moore]

Hi all,

Rich Gray wrote:


>
> > Let's say I have a PHP script (script.php) which includes two files
> > (functions.php and newerfunctions.php).
> >
> > If both functions.php and newerfunctions.php have a function called
> > foo(), which foo() will I have when I call it in script.php:
> >
> > *  The one called first?
> > *  The one called last?
> > *  Neither, because PHP will throw an error on the second include?
>
>No 3 is the answer - PHP will throw an error..
>Rich


He is right. It is a scoping error. Imagine a big box, called script.php and 
inside are two smaller boxes, called functions.php and newfunctions.php. 
Inside of each small box the local foo() will be seen and run. Outside of 
them and inside the big box, neither will be seen.

Since I am new to PHP, I do not know if the error happens during parsing - 
trying to read the script - or if it hapens at runtime. Regardless, it will 
not work. However, it will still work if there is a foo() in the big box 
also. The parser will find the version that is most local to the calling 
line.

If you are trying to reference both of them from the big box, using the 
exact same name, then you deserve to get tied in knots and should find 
another line of work.

Ken

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