PHP function - works outside function, but not inside

Question

I have the following PHP code, which is stored in a seperate PHP file to the index.php file I am using.

The page include()'s fine into the index.php file when not within a function.

  $_3_dart_score = $_POST["user-input"];
  $remaining_score = 501 - $_POST["user-input"];

However when it is included with an function, it doesn't seem to work.

<?php
function throw()
{
$_3_dart_score = $_POST["user-input"];
$remaining_score = 501 - $_POST["user-input"];
global $_3_dart_score
global $remaining_score
throw();
}
?>

I have tried all sorts, even calling the function from the index.php page, however nothing seems to work.

Answer 1

You need to call throw() from outside of your function, not inside of it. You should also consider passing variables as arguments instead of relying on global variables.

Answer 2

function throw($input) {
    $_3_dart_score = $input;
    $remaining_score = 501 - $input;
    return array($_3_dart_score, $remaining_score);
}

list($_3_dart_score, $remaining_score) = throw($_POST["user-input"]);

1. Get rid of the global nonsense. That's bad form. Instead return those values. I use an array so I can return both at once. (They actually should be done separately in different functions but you're not quite there yet).

2. I pass $_POST["user-input"] as a parameter to throw() as your function should not be so closely tied to other code. This way that value can come from anywhere and this function will still work.

3. I use list() to put those values in the array into there own scalar variables in a one-liner.