Bringing Variable outside of a function

I've been using php for a while now, but have just started using functions a lot. I am trying to bring a variable that is inside of a function outside of it. here is the function...

<?php
function check_sn($cat_num,$sn,$i){
	$sn_req = mysql_query("SELECT `ser_no_req` FROM `categories` WHERE `cat_no`='$cat_num'") or die(mysql_error());
	$sn_req_res = mysql_fetch_assoc($sn_req);
	if ('y' == $sn_req_res['ser_no_req']){
		for($i=$_POST['ship' . $cat_num];$i>0;$i--){
			$sn[$cat_num.$i] = $_POST['sn' . $cat_num . $i];
		};
	};
	print_r($sn);
};?>

PHP:

When it runs through that, it prints $sn, but when it goes out of the function it won'g print $sn. How can I correct this? Thanks in advance! Nathan

 

Hello,

You need to make the variable global.

Demo code:

<?
function dosomething(){
        global $variable;
        $variable = 'test';
        echo "$variable\n";
}
dosomething();
echo $variable;
?>

PHP:

Output:

test
test

Code (markup):

Jay

 

or return the variable from the function, it's cleaner and doesn't global it.

function check_sn($cat_num,$sn,$i){
    $sn_req = mysql_query("SELECT `ser_no_req` FROM `categories` WHERE `cat_no`='$cat_num'") or die(mysql_error());
    $sn_req_res = mysql_fetch_assoc($sn_req);
    if ('y' == $sn_req_res['ser_no_req']){
        for($i=$_POST['ship' . $cat_num];$i>0;$i--){
            $sn[$cat_num.$i] = $_POST['sn' . $cat_num . $i];
        };
    };
    print_r($sn);
    return $sn;
};

$out = check_sn($data1,$data2,$data3)
print_r($out);
?>

PHP:

 

Except if you need to take multiple variables out, or when the variables you require depend on the input of the process. Return is easier for one variable, and Global is easy for multiple variables (rather than returning array($var1, $var2, $varetc)).

Jay

 

if you need to return multiple items you should use an object.

 

... or pass the initial parameters by reference instead of by value. That way, when you change the value in the function, that change is 'persistent' in the original value passed in to the function.