How to understand PHP syntax when it's explained "in theory" on php.net?

Question

I'm reading php.net in order to get acquainted with new functions. I'm very newbie in learning any programming language, and when I read how any function's syntax is explained, it's not easy for me. ie: array_unshift() I get this:

int array_unshift(array array, mixed variable [,mixed variable...])

I read some examples, but I can't understand a priori [ed note: not having any prior knowledge] how the syntax works reading only the theoretical explanation. I haven't found any other question related to this.

Answer 1

You've misquoted the function definition, it is:

int array_unshift ( array &$array , mixed $value1 [, mixed $... ] )

which equates to:

return_type function_name ( type_hint $arg_name , type_hint $arg_name [, type_hint $...] )

where ... means it will accept as many more arguments as you want to throw at it.

Answer 2

This can easily be narrowed done to the following

1. return value: int
2. name of the method: array_unshift
3. list of accepted arguments:
   1. first argument:
      • type: array
      • name that will be used in the description, etc.: array
   2. second argument:
      • type: mixed (multiple types possible)
      • name that will be used in the description, etc.: variable

You can read more about the types in the manual.