php

PHP Functions

Returning values from function

A single value may be returned from a PHP function to the script from which it was called. The returned value can be any variable type of your choice.

Besides being able to pass functions information, you can also have them return a value. However, a function can only return one thing, although that thing can be any integer, float, array, string, etc. that you choose!

How does it return a value though? Well, when the function is used and finishes executing, it sort of changes from being a function name into being a value. To capture this value you can set a variable equal to the function.

Something like:

. $myVar = somefunction();

Let's demonstrate this returning of a value by using a simple function that returns the sum of two integers.

The return keyword is used to return the value:

<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>PHP Function: Returning Values
</TITLE></HEAD>
<BODY>
<?php
function sum ($val1, $val2)
{
	$result=$val1+$val2;
    return $result;
}
?>
<hr>
 <CENTER><H3>PHP Function: Returning Values</H3></CENTER>
<hr>
<p>Sum of 21 and 79 =<?php echo " ".sum(21,79);?></p>
</BODY>
</HTML>

The above example returns the value of 100 to the calling script.