Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

PHP Build a Simple PHP Application Wrapping Up The Project Wrapping Up The Project

Lucas Santos
Lucas Santos
19,315 Points
Posted by Lucas Santos
Lucas Santos
19,315 Points

What does the following block of code output?

<?php

$flavors = array("Cake Batter","Cookie Dough");

foreach ($flavors as $a => $b) {

    echo $a;

}

?>

I understand foreach loops but im not understanding the $a => $b part. My guess was Cake Batter but I was wrong.

Jeff Busch
Jeff Busch
19,287 Points

Lucas,

Add echo $b; to your foreach loop and view it.

2 Answers

Jeff Busch
Jeff Busch
19,287 Points

Hi Lucas,

In a foreach loop the variable(s) after as are what is called working variables. In the example you've supplied the variable $a is holding the key and the $b is holding the value as the foreach loops through the array. Since no key has been explicitly assigned php assigns a numeric key and this is what is being echoed out, hence 0 and 1. Remember, if left to php the keys start numbering at zero.

Jeff

Lucas Santos
Lucas Santos
19,315 Points
Lucas Santos
Lucas Santos
19,315 Points

ahh ok so "Cake Batter","Cookie Dough" are irrelevant because their just arguments and not a key being assigned to a value. And so when there is no key assigned to a value php numbers them 0, 1 rite

Dan Mirda
Dan Mirda
3,992 Points
Dan Mirda
Dan Mirda
3,992 Points

I think if you modified it like it is below you will get it to work. In a for each loop what you usually specify is the array that you will retrieve elements from and a temporary variable. $flavors is the array and $a is the temporary variable that will be assigned the elements in the array.

<?php

$flavors = array("Cake Batter","Cookie Dough");

foreach ($flavors as $a) {
    echo $a;
}

?>