PHP syntax -- referencing an assoc. array

[andynic]

My question has to do with whether or not the syntax I am suing is "valid" php syntax, i.e. is it standard practice? will it be supported in future versions of php?

I am using php 5.3.8.

Given this test code below, is the reference to $a['elt2'] valid in the <input> tag value="$a[elt"]>? That is, no quotes around the key, elt1.
<?php

$a = array();
$a['elt1'] = "value of elt1";
$a['elt2'] = "value of elt2";

echo "a['elt'] = ", $a['elt1'], ". This is the usual way to reference the value, i.e key in quotes. <br />";

echo <<<PRINT_INPUT
<input type="text" size="150" name="demo"
value="a['elt2'] = $a[elt2]. Is this way of referencing the value ok, i.e. no quotes around the key?" />
PRINT_INPUT;
?>

Thanks for your help.
Andynic

[andynic]

Correction: That question should read:
Given this test code below, is the reference to $a['elt2'] valid in the <input> tag value="$a[elt1]">? That is, no quotes around the key, elt1.

[andynic]

Another correction:
Given this test code below, is the reference to $a['elt1'] valid in the <input> tag value="$a[elt1]">? That is, no quotes around the key, elt1.

[Jeff Mott]

Nope, it's not good practice.

http://php.net/manual/en/language.ty....array.foo-bar

[andynic]

Thanks for the reply, Jeff. That link to the php site is very good.
Appreciate the help.
Andynic

[NogDog]

Note that for the parser to correctly deal with a quoted array key (which is a good practice for consistency's sake), you cannot just use it as such within a double-quoted string. You will either have to use "complex" notation...

echo "<input type='text' name='foo' value='{$array['bar']}' />"; 

...or else concatentation...

echo "<input type='text' name='foo' value='" . $array['bar'] ."' />"; 

(Or use other options such as printf().)

[andynic]

Hi NogDog,
Thanks for the succinct and accurate reply.
Both work.
Andynic