PHP: Returning values

Returning values

Values are returned by using the optional return statement. Any type may be returned, including arrays and objects. This causes the function to end its execution immediately and pass control back to the line from which it was called. See return for more information.

Зауваження:
If the return is omitted the value NULL will be returned.

Use of return

Приклад #1 Use of return


<?php
function square($num)
{
    return $num * $num;
}
echo square(4);   // outputs '16'.
?>

A function can not return multiple values, but similar results can be obtained by returning an array.

Приклад #2 Returning an array to get multiple values


<?php
function small_numbers()
{
    return array (0, 1, 2);
}
list ($zero, $one, $two) = small_numbers();
?>

To return a reference from a function, use the reference operator & in both the function declaration and when assigning the returned value to a variable:

Приклад #3 Returning a reference from a function


<?php
function &returns_reference()
{
    return $someref;
}

$newref =& returns_reference();
?>

For more information on references, please check out References Explained.

Return type declarations

PHP 7 adds support for return type declarations. Similarly to argument type declarations, return type declarations specify the type of the value that will be returned from a function. The same types are available for return type declarations as are available for argument type declarations.

Strict typing also has an effect on return type declarations. In the default weak mode, returned values will be coerced to the correct type if they are not already of that type. In strong mode, the returned value must be of the correct type, otherwise a TypeError will be thrown.

Зауваження:
When overriding a parent method, the child's method must match any return type declaration on the parent. If the parent doesn't define a return type, then the child method may do so.

Приклади

Приклад #4 Basic return type declaration


<?php
function sum($a, $b): float {
    return $a + $b;
}

// Note that a float will be returned.
var_dump(sum(1, 2));
?>

Наведений вище приклад виведе:

float(3)

Приклад #5 Strict mode in action


<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

function sum($a, $b): int {
    return $a + $b;
}

var_dump(sum(1, 2));
var_dump(sum(1, 2.5));
?>

Наведений вище приклад виведе:

int(3)

Fatal error: Uncaught TypeError: Return value of sum() must be of the type integer, float returned in - on line 5 in -:5
Stack trace:
#0 -(9): sum(1, 2.5)
#1 {main}
  thrown in - on line 5

Приклад #6 Returning an object


<?php
class C {}

function getC(): C {
    return new C;
}

var_dump(getC());
?>

Наведений вище приклад виведе:

object(C)#1 (0) {
}

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User Contributed Notes 10 notes

down

ryan dot jentzsch at gmail dot com ¶

7 years ago


PHP 7.1 allows for void and null return types by preceding the type declaration with a ? -- (e.g. function canReturnNullorString(): ?string) 

However resource is not allowed as a return type:

<?php
function fileOpen(string $fileName, string $mode): resource
{
    $handle = fopen($fileName, $mode);
    if ($handle !== false)
    {
        return $handle;
    }
}

$resourceHandle = fileOpen("myfile.txt", "r");
?>

Errors with:
Fatal error: Uncaught TypeError: Return value of fileOpen() must be an instance of resource, resource returned.

down

rstaveley at seseit dot com ¶

13 years ago


Developers with a C background may expect pass by reference semantics for arrays. It may be surprising that  pass by value is used for arrays just like scalars. Objects are implicitly passed by reference.

<?php

# (1) Objects are always passed by reference and returned by reference

class Obj {
    public $x;
}

function obj_inc_x($obj) {
    $obj->x++;
    return $obj;
}

$obj = new Obj();
$obj->x = 1;

$obj2 = obj_inc_x($obj);
obj_inc_x($obj2);

print $obj->x . ', ' . $obj2->x . "\n";

# (2) Scalars are not passed by reference or returned as such

function scalar_inc_x($x) {
    $x++;
    return $x;
}

$x = 1;

$x2 = scalar_inc_x($x);
scalar_inc_x($x2);

print $x . ', ' . $x2 . "\n";

# (3) You have to force pass by reference and return by reference on scalars

function &scalar_ref_inc_x(&$x) {
    $x++;
    return $x;
}

$x = 1;

$x2 =& scalar_ref_inc_x($x);    # Need reference here as well as the function sig
scalar_ref_inc_x($x2);

print $x . ', ' . $x2 . "\n";

# (4) Arrays use pass by value sematics just like scalars

function array_inc_x($array) {
    $array{'x'}++;
    return $array;
}

$array = array();
$array['x'] = 1;

$array2 = array_inc_x($array);
array_inc_x($array2);

print $array['x'] . ', ' . $array2['x'] . "\n";

# (5) You have to force pass by reference and return by reference on arrays

function &array_ref_inc_x(&$array) {
    $array{'x'}++;
    return $array;
}

$array = array();
$array['x'] = 1;

$array2 =& array_ref_inc_x($array); # Need reference here as well as the function sig
array_ref_inc_x($array2);

print $array['x'] . ', ' . $array2['x'] . "\n";

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bgalloway at citycarshare dot org ¶

16 years ago


Be careful about using "do this thing or die()" logic in your return lines.  It doesn't work as you'd expect:

<?php
function myfunc1() {
    return('thingy' or die('otherthingy'));
}
function myfunc2() {
    return 'thingy' or die('otherthingy');
}
function myfunc3() {
    return('thingy') or die('otherthingy');
}
function myfunc4() {
    return 'thingy' or 'otherthingy';
}
function myfunc5() {
    $x = 'thingy' or 'otherthingy'; return $x;
}
echo myfunc1(). "\n". myfunc2(). "\n". myfunc3(). "\n". myfunc4(). "\n". myfunc5(). "\n";
?>

Only myfunc5() returns 'thingy' - the rest return 1.

down

nick at itomic.com ¶

20 years ago


Functions which return references, may return a NULL value. This is inconsistent with the fact that function parameters passed by reference can't be passed as NULL (or in fact anything which isnt a variable).

i.e.

<?php

function &testRet()
{
    return NULL;
}

if (testRet() === NULL)
{
    echo "NULL";
}
?>

parses fine and echoes NULL

down

Berniev ¶

5 years ago


Be careful when introducing return types to your code.

Only one return type can be specified (but prefacing with ? allows null).

Return values of a type different to that specified are silently converted with sometimes perplexing results. These can be tedious to find and will need rewriting, along with calling code.

Declare strict types using "declare(strict_types=1);" and an error will be generated, saving much head-scratching.

down

zored dot box at gmail dot com ¶

6 years ago


You may specify child return type if there is no parent:

<?php

class A {
    public function f ($a)
    {
        return 1;
    }
}

class B extends A {
    public function f ($a): int // + return type, OK
    {
        return 1;
    }
}

class C extends A {
    public function f (int $a) // + argument type, WARNING
    {
        return 1;
    }
}
?>

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k-gun !! mail ¶

7 years ago


With 7.1, these are possible yet;

<?php
function ret_void(): void {
    // do something but no return any value
    // if needs to break fn exec for any reason simply write return;
    if (...) {
        return; // break
        // return null; // even this NO!
    }

    $db->doSomething();
    // no need return call anymore 
}

function ret_nullable() ?int {
    if (...) {
        return 123;
    } else {
        return null; // MUST!
    }
}
?>

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ryan dot jentzsch at gmail dot com ¶

8 years ago


PHP 7 return types if specified can not return a null.
For example:
<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

function add2ints(int $x, int $y):int
{
    $z = $x + $y;
    if ($z===0)
    {
        return null;
    }
    return $z;
}
$a = add2ints(3, 4);
echo is_null($a) ? 'Null' : $a;
$b = add2ints(-2, 2);
echo is_null($b) ? 'Null' : $b;
exit();

Output:
7
Process finished with exit code 139

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-3

php(@)genjo(DOT)fr ¶

4 years ago


Declaring a collection of objects as return type is not implemented and forbidden:
<?php
class Child{}

function getChilds(): Child[]
{
    return [(new Child()), (new Child())];
}

var_dump(getChilds());
// Returns:  Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '[', expecting '{'
?>

We have to use:
<?php
class Child{}

function getChilds(): array
{
    return [(new Child()), (new Child())];
}

var_dump(getChilds());
// Returns: 
/*
array (size=2)
  0 =>
    object(Child)[168]
  1 =>
    object(Child)[398]
*/
?>

Idem for function parameter:
<?php
function setChilds(Child[] $childs){}
// Not allowed

function setChilds(array $childs){}
// Allowed
?>

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-4

Vidmantas Maskoliunas ¶

8 years ago


Note: the function does not have "alternative syntax" as if/endif, while/endwhile, and colon (:) here is used to define returning type and not to mark where the block statement begins.

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