PHP Difference between array() and []
PhpArraysSyntaxSquare BracketPhp Problem Overview
I'm writing a PHP app and I want to make sure it will work with no errors.
The original code:
<?php
$data = array('name' => 'test',
'id' => 'theID');
echo form_input($data);
?>
Would the following work with no errors or is not recommended for some reason?
<?= form_input(['name' => 'test', 'id' => 'theID']); ?>
Are there any difference?
I've looked again the data about array()
and the short array method with square brackets []
in PHP.net but I'm not sure.
And also, is the short php tag <?= ?>
fine for echoing? Is there any version issue? (provided is enabled in php.ini)
Php Solutions
Solution 1 - Php
Following []
is supported in PHP >= 5.4:
['name' => 'test', 'id' => 'theID']
This is a short syntax only and in PHP < 5.4 it won't work.
Solution 2 - Php
As of 2022, it has been 10 years since the []
syntax was added. That is long enough to drop array()
except in old legacy programs, in my opinion.
Solution 3 - Php
If you are using 5.3 or previous version then you can't use []
as an array as well as associative array.
If you are using 5.4 or later version of PHP then you can use either array()
or []
to create an array, associative array or even multidimensional array.
Solution 4 - Php
And regarding the <?= ?>
part of the question: it is largely not frowned upon, at least not in 2019.
- A good technical breakdown: https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/151661/is-it-bad-practice-to-use-tag-in-php
- A note in PSR-1: Files MUST use only
<?php
and<?=
tags. - TL;DR: There is no reason you cannot or should not use it.
Solution 5 - Php
Using php 7.2, for me it seems rather then [I am a an array] {I am an array seems to work}. Difference is between {}
and []
. My code
<p>
<label for="post_category"> Cat 1 </label>
<input type="checkbox" name="post_category{first}" value="cat1">
<br />
<label for="post_category{second}"> Cat 2 </label>
<input type="checkbox" name="post_category" value="cat2">
</p>