Re: [PHP] optional object arguments to a function

Shawn McKenzie wrote:
> Michael A. Peters wrote:
>> Rene Veerman wrote:
>>> On Sat, Feb 13, 2010 at 9:05 AM, Michael A. Peters <[email protected]>
>>> wrote:
>>>> How do I specify a default null object, or otherwise make the argument
>>>> argument optional?
>>>>
>>> To my knowledge: can't be done.
>>>
>>> But you can check any args through the func_get_arg*() functions, then
>>> per-parameter push 'm through a check function that checks if their
>>> primary properties are set.
>>> It's equivalent to checking for null ( / bad) objects.
>>>
>> Thank you to everybody. I think I will see how far I can get with
>> func_get_arg - it may solve the problem.
>>
>> The other hackish solution I thought of is to put the object arguments
>> into a key/value array and pass the array as a single argument to the
>> function. That way I can check for the key and if the key is set, grab
>> the object associated with it.
> 
> Maybe I mis-read your post, but what's wrong with Jochem's method.
> That's what I was going to propose.
> 

Possibly nothing - but passing an array with keys I think makes it 
easier to determine what the object (a DOM node) corresponds with by 
just looking at the key (IE for a single integral there can be lower 
limit, upper limit, etc.)

Maybe after implementing it that way and actually getting things 
working, I can look into passing the dom objects as actual arguments 
instead of wrapping them in array.

But some existing functions like tidy take some of their optional 
arguments in a key->value array and it is now in php core so it isn't 
unprecedented to use a key->value array.