accessing array values without square brackets in php

Question

In php how can I access an array's values without using square brackets around the key? My particular problem is that I want to access the elements of an array returned by a function. Say function(args) returns an array. Why is $var = function(args)[0]; yelling at me about the square brackets? Can I do something like $var = function(args).value(0); or am I missing something very basic?

Answer 1

As the others have said, you pretty much have to use a temporary variable:

$temp = myFunction();
$value = $temp[0];

But, if know the structure of the array being returned it is possible to avoid the temporary variable.

If you just want the first member:

$value = reset(myFunction());

If you want the last member:

$value = end(myFunction());

If you want any one in between:

// second member
list(, $value) = myFunction();

// third
list(, , $value) = myFunction();

// or if you want more than one:

list(, , $thirdVar, , $fifth) = myFunction();