Get_defined_vars()

Introduction

The get_defined_vars() function is a built-in function in PHP that returns an associative array containing all the defined variables in the current scope, including those defined by PHP and those defined by the user.

Syntax

The syntax of the get_defined_vars() function is as follows:

array get_defined_vars(void)

The function takes no parameters. It returns an associative array where the keys are the variable names and the values are the variable values.

Example Usage

Here is an example of how to use the get_defined_vars() function in PHP:

<?php
$var1 = "hello";
$var2 = 42;
function testFunction() {
  $var3 = true;
  $all_vars = get_defined_vars();
  print_r($all_vars);
}
testFunction();
?>

In this example, we define three variables $var1, $var2, and $var3, where $var3 is defined within a function. We then call the get_defined_vars() function within the testFunction() function and output the result using the print_r() function. The output shows an associative array containing all the defined variables in the current scope, including those defined by PHP and those defined by the user.

Conclusion

The get_defined_vars() function is a useful tool for inspecting all the defined variables in the current scope of a PHP script. It can be used for debugging purposes, to check if a particular variable has been defined, or to ensure that all necessary variables have been defined before executing a block of code. By using this function, developers can ensure that their code is working with the correct data types and avoid errors that may occur when working with mixed data types.