PHP 5.6.3 Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '[' in class

Question

While I was creating a class in php, I experienced this error:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '[', expecting ',' or ';' on line 5

A simple example:

<?php

class MyClass
{
  public $variable["attribute"] = "I'm a class property!";
}

?>

I already had a look at Reference - What does this error mean in PHP? but this doesn't seem to fit to my case. The problem of all other existing Questions seem to rely to an old PHP Version. But I am using PHP 5.6.3!

What can I do? Am I just sightless?

I don't think you can do this, but try $variable = array("attribute" => "I'm a class property!") — MightyPork
– MightyPork, Commented Jan 11, 2015 at 12:45
I know that this way works, but why is this outside of a class possible? <?php $variable["attribute"] = "I'm a class property!"; ?> — DevTec
– DevTec, Commented Jan 11, 2015 at 12:49
simply cuz it's outside of the class... it would implicitly create the array and set it's element, but here it looks like you are declaring the "attribute" element of the array as public, which is weird and php doesn't like it, too — MightyPork
– MightyPork, Commented Jan 11, 2015 at 12:50

Darren · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-11 12:46:28Z

2

You can't explicitly create a variable like that (array index). You'd have to do it like this:

class MyClass {
    // you can use the short array syntax since you state you're using php version 5.6.3
    public $variable = [
        'attribute' => 'property'
    ];
}

Alternatively, you could do (as most people would), this:

class MyClass {
    public $variable = array();

    function __construct(){
        $this->variable['attribute'] = 'property';
    }
}
// instantiate class
$class = new MyClass();

answered Jan 11, 2015 at 12:46

Darren

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Comments

souslov · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-11 12:46:01Z

1

I guess you should declare it the way it is shown below :

class MyClass
{
   public $variable = array( "attribute" => "I'm a class property!" );
}

answered Jan 11, 2015 at 12:46

souslov

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Comments

Utkarsh Dixit · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-11 12:47:53Z

1

Make an array first. Use the code below

<?php

class MyClass
{
public $variable = array("attribute"=>"I'm a class property!");

}

?>

HOpe this helps you

answered Jan 11, 2015 at 12:47

Utkarsh Dixit

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Comments

Lorenz Meyer · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-11 12:52:44Z

1

You cannot declare class members like this. Also you cannot use expressions in class member declarations.

There are two ways to achieve what you are looking for :

class MyClass
{
    public $variable;
    function __construct()
    {
        $variable["attribute"] = "I'm a class property!";
    }
}

or like this

class MyClass
{
    public $variable = array("attribute" => "I'm a class property!");
}

answered Jan 11, 2015 at 12:52

Lorenz Meyer

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