Functions in PHP
Definition:
Functions are a block of code wrapped inside the {} brackets indicating beginning
and end of the function code.
Advantages of using functions are:
1) Better Organization of code
2) Easy to debug
3) Reusability
4) Easy maintenance.
In php we have two types of functions
1) Built-in function(string functions (strlen, strcmp,strrev), numeric
functions(rand(),is_number(),sqrt(), date function date())
2) User define functions
Rules
Rules that must follow when creating our own functions.
Function names must start with a letter or an underscore but not a number
The function name must be unique
The function name must not contain spaces
It is considered a good practice to use descriptive function names.
Functions can optionally accept parameters and return values too.
Creating functions in PHP
1) To create a function in php we use function keyword
Syntax:
function function_name( ) // Defining a PHP function
{
Statements;
Sonali Yadav Date: 25/03/2020 UNIT-3
}
function_name( ); //Calling a PHP function
Example1: Function without parameters
<?php
function hello()
{
echo "Good morning Every One";
}
hello();
?>
Example2: Function with parameters and no return value
<?php
function add($num1,$num2)
{
echo $num1+$num2;
}
add(567,59);
?>
Example3: Function with parameters and return value
<?php
function multi($num1 , $num2)
{
$mul= $num1*$num2;
return $mul;
}
$return_value = multi(10,20);
echo $return_value;
?>
Sonali Yadav Date: 25/03/2020 UNIT-3
Passing Arguments by Reference
By default, value passed to the function is call by value. To pass value as a
reference, we need to use ampersand (&) symbol before the argument name. Value
passed to the function doesn’t modify the actual value by default (call by value)
.But we can do so by passing value as a reference.
Example 4: Passing Arguments by Reference:
<?php
function add($num1) /Call by Value
{
$num1+=5;
echo "The value of num1 is::".$num1;
}
function sum(&$num1) //Call by reference
{
$num1+=5;
echo "The value of num1 is::".$num1;
}
$x=12;
add($x);
echo "<br><br>";
echo "The value of x is::".$x;
echo "<br><br>";
sum($x);
echo "<br><br>";
echo "The value of x is::".$x;
echo "<br><br>";
?>
Sonali Yadav Date: 25/03/2020 UNIT-3