What does this mean in PHP: -> or =>
PhpSyntaxPhp Problem Overview
> Possible duplicate:
> where we use object operator “->” in php
> Reference - What does this symbol mean in PHP?
I see these in PHP all the time but I don't have a clue as to what they actually mean. What does -> do and what does => do. And I'm not talking about the operators. They're something else, but nobody seems to know...
Php Solutions
Solution 1 - Php
The double arrow operator, =>, is used as an access mechanism for arrays. This means that what is on the left side of it will have a corresponding value of what is on the right side of it in array context. This can be used to set values of any acceptable type into a corresponding index of an array. The index can be associative (string based) or numeric.
$myArray = array(
0 => 'Big',
1 => 'Small',
2 => 'Up',
3 => 'Down'
);
The object operator, ->, is used in object scope to access methods and properties of an object. It’s meaning is to say that what is on the right of the operator is a member of the object instantiated into the variable on the left side of the operator. Instantiated is the key term here.
// Create a new instance of MyObject into $obj
$obj = new MyObject();
// Set a property in the $obj object called thisProperty
$obj->thisProperty = 'Fred';
// Call a method of the $obj object named getProperty
$obj->getProperty();
Solution 2 - Php
-> is used to call a method, or access a property, on the object of a class
=> is used to assign values to the keys of an array
E.g.:
$ages = array("Peter"=>32, "Quagmire"=>30, "Joe"=>34, 1=>2);
And since PHP 7.4+ the operator => is used too for the added arrow functions, a more concise syntax for anonymous functions.
Solution 3 - Php
=> is used in associative array key value assignment. Take a look at:
http://php.net/manual/en/language.types.array.php.
-> is used to access an object method or property. Example: $obj->method().
Solution 4 - Php
->
calls/sets object variables. Ex:
$obj = new StdClass;
$obj->foo = 'bar';
var_dump($obj);
=> Sets key/value pairs for arrays. Ex:
$array = array(
'foo' => 'bar'
);
var_dump($array);