Undefined number of arguments in PHP

[Chris]

In C there was an option for unlimited arguments to be passed to a function using "...". I don't remember how it was called and how it exactly worked. It was something like this:

Code: [Select]

void foo(...) { and a few lines with vSOMETHING() to strip the arguments were here }
Is there an equivalent of this in PHP? Any example/link?

[Nox]

Yes, in PHP you can supply any number of arguments above those required

To work with them then use http://cz2.php.net/manual/en/function.func-get-args.php along with other functions mentioned there

edit: no => yes to make it clearer

[Barrikor]

I love those functions =)  Makes it so that if I want the first parameter to be optional I can =)

[DV8]

Am I the only one that thinks this is a bit, I don't know... messy? I think I'd rather solve it with an object or an array or something.

[pirategaspard]

Am I the only one that thinks this is a bit, I don't know... messy? I think I'd rather solve it with an object or an array or something.

Agreed. In PHP when I need optional arguments on functions I pass in an array and then check for the keys in the array.
(This is where you could also set defaults if you'd like.) Makes things a bit more straightforward to work with.

Other benefits of passing an array is that you don't have to worry about the order in which you are passing the arguments and if you are using interfaces your interface won't change even if you pass more "arguments" through the array later on.

[Barrikor]

What about doing something like this:

Code: [Select]

<?php

function someFunction( $first , $second , $third )
{
$numberOfDefinedArgs = 3; //number of param's in function declaration, (counting from 1 not 0)

$arrayOfUndefinedArgs = array_slice( func_get_args() , $numberOfDefinedArgs );
}

?>

(Note: I haven't tested it yet to make sure it works
Edited: to fix syntax )

[Chris]

Yes, in PHP you can supply any number of arguments above those required

Really? How? It seems to me as if PHP could only pass a variable number of arguments but without making any obligatory arguments.

PHP

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function sum() {
$count = func_num_args();
$sum = 0;
for($i=0; $i<$count; $i++) {
$num = func_get_arg($i);
$sum += $num;
}
return $sum;
}
C

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void write_Log(int log_flag, const char* ptr, ...)
{
va_list ap;
va_start(ap, ptr);
... // log_flag is defined
}