1.2.486. Function Subscripting

It is possible to use the result of a methodcall directly as an array, without storing the result in a temporary variable.

This works, given that the method actually returns an array.

This syntax was not possible until PHP 5.4. Until then, it was compulsory to store the result in a variable first. Although this is now superfluous, it has been a standard syntax in PHP, and is still being used. Storing the result in a variable is still useful if the result is actually used more than once.

<?php

function foo() {
    return array(1 => 'a', 'b', 'c');
}

echo foo()[1]; // displays 'a';

// Function subscripting, the old way
function foo() {
    return array(1 => 'a', 'b', 'c');
}

$x = foo();
echo $x[1]; // displays 'a';

?>

See also Accessing array elements with square bracket syntax.

1.2.486.1. Specs

Short name	Structures/FunctionSubscripting
Rulesets	All, Appinfo, CE, CompatibilityPHP53
Exakat since	0.8.4
PHP Version	With PHP 5.4 and more recent
Severity	Minor
Time To Fix	Instant (5 mins)
Precision	High
Features	subscripting
Available in	Entreprise Edition, Community Edition, Exakat Cloud