Determines when and where a variable can be used.

 

Can also be thought of as the lifetime or validity of the variable.

 

4 scope types:

• Global
• Local
• Function Parameters
• Static

Global Scope

• Any variable defined outside of any function
• Can be accessed from any part of the script that is not inside a function
• Use the global keyword to access a global variable from within a function

 

<?php
	$myGlobal = 6;		//global variable
	$yourGlobal = 7 ;	//global variable

	echo $myGlobal * $yourGlobal . "<br>";

	function multiplyNoGlobal()
	{
		//unable to use global variables without using global keyword
		echo $myGlobal * $yourGlobal . "<br>";
	}

	multiplyNoGlobal();

	function multiplyGlobal()
	{
		global $myGlobal, $yourGlobal ;	//use global variables
		echo $myGlobal * $yourGlobal . "<br>";
	}

	multiplyGlobal();

?>

Displays:

42 0 42

 

 

The $GLOBALS[ ] array also stores global variables, using the name of the variable as the index:

 

<?php
	$myGlobal = 6;		//global variable
	$yourGlobal = 7 ;	//global variable

	function globalsArray()
	{
		//use $GLOBALS array with global variables as index
		echo $GLOBALS['myGlobal'] * $GLOBALS['yourGlobal'] . "<br>";
	}

	globalsArray();

?>

Displays:

42

---

Local Scope

A locally scoped variable is only valid within the block of code in which it has been declared.

 

<?php
	$myVar = 6;		//global variable

	function localScope()
	{
		//Will display nothing as has no local value
		echo $myVar . "nothing here<br>";

		//assign a value to give local scope
		$myVar = 42;
		echo $myVar . "<br>";
	}

	localScope();

	//display current scoped variable
	echo $myVar;

?>

Displays:

nothing here 42 6

---

Function Parameters

Objects passed to a function as arguments to be used within the function.

 

Only valid within the function.

 

<?php

	function parameters($myVar, $yourVar)
	{
		echo "The two variables passed in were: " . $myVar . " and ". $yourVar . "
";

	}

	$firstVar = "Excellent";
	$secondVar = 12 ;
	parameters($firstVar, $secondVar);

?>

Displays:

The two variables passed in were: Excellent and 12

---

Static Variables

Use static keyword within a function to make the variable retains its previous value.

 

The variable still remains local to that function and cannot be used outside of the function.

 

<?php

	function remembering() {

	STATIC $myVar = 0;
	   $myVar++;
	   echo "\$myVar is now: " . $myVar . "
" ;
	}
	remembering();
	remembering();
	remembering();
	remembering();
	remembering();

?>

Displays:

$myVar is now: 1 $myVar is now: 2 $myVar is now: 3 $myVar is now: 4 $myVar is now: 5

---

This example shows a bad function (salmon shaded area) without using the global keyword to use the global variable.

Which is then followed by a good function (lilac shaded area) using the global keyword to use the global variable.

Finally it shows that the local variable within a function is non-existent outside of the function:

 

 

Displays:

$myVar in global scope is: 5. Function NOT using global variable: $myVar inside function is: . Locally scoped $newVar inside function is: 0. Function USING global variable: $myVar inside function is: 5. Locally scoped $newVar inside function is: 25.     Global $myVar is: 5. Previously locally scoped $newVar outside the function is: .