PHP Unexpected 'var' (T_VARIABLE)

Question

For whatever reason, I have a small bit of PHP code that no matter where I put var $blah;, it always gives this error in the logs: PHP Parse error:  syntax error, unexpected 'var' (T_VAR) in /path/to/file.php on line xx

I have no idea why it wouldn't accept this. A class that is included (which creates the $proverbSite variable in another php section) uses plenty of 'var $blah', with no problems. I also realise this is probably just an embarassingly simple mistake.

<?php
        $proverbSite->dbConnect();
        $result = $proverbSite->dbQuery("randProverb");

        if($result != null) {
            $row = $result->fetch_assoc();
            echo $row['proverb'];
            echo "<br>";
        }

?>

Answer 1

Keyword var is only used in classes (in PHP). In the plain scope variables are automatically declared as you mention them. Just erase it, and it should work.

Answer 2

Check the line before xx because you may have forgotten a ; and this may cause PHP to interpret it incorrectly