In this article we will discuss and demonstrate passing values to a function in a PHP program. A variable must be anticipated by a function, it cannot just appear. When you pass values to a function, values are placed inside parentheses as shown:
functionname (value, value,..);
The function statement shown below includes the variable names for the values expected:
function functionname ($varname1, $varname2..);
The PHP programming code listed below demonstrates passing values to a function. For this example, we will use a function to compute the sales tax. As discussed previously in Using a variable in a PHP program, the same rules apply. Please refer to the article for a refresher.
I have installed and used a newer version of the Wampserver package for this program. The newer version is Wampserver (64 bits & PHP 5.5) 2.5, which includes the newer releases of .. Apache : 2.4.9 MySQL : 5.6.17 PHP : 5.5.12 PHPMyAdmin : 4.1.14 SqlBuddy : 1.3.3 XDebug : 2.2.5
Please refer to the following articles for the download, install, configuration and fixing the security hole.
NOTE: As demonstrated in the previous programs, we used notepad a plain text editor. The PHP programs are stored on our web server, "C:\Wampserver\www." Please note the stored web server location.
Now let us create the PHP program, please follow the steps outlined below:
- Select and click "Start."
- Select and click "All Programs."
- Select and click "Accessories."
- Select and click "Notepad."
- Type the PHP code exactly as shown below.
<title>Sales Tax Calculation</title>
<body><h1>Sales Tax Calculation</h1>
<h3>Demonstrates use of passing variables to functions<h3>
$amount = 2000.00;
$clientState = "Virginia";
function compute_salestax($amount, $clientState)
switch ( $clientState )
$salestaxrate = 0;
$salestaxrate = 1.0;
$salestaxrate = .5;
$salestax = $amount * $salestaxrate;
print "$$salestax sales tax for the State of $clientState.<p />";
- Once you have type the entire program, Select "File," "Save As," and then go to the webroot of your server. For example, C:\Wampserver\www. Type Filename, calcsalestx.php," and then Select "Save."
In the next article of the Using functions in a PHP program (part 6); we will continue with Passing the right type of values.