Whats is the difference between -> and [''] in php

Question

I have been following 2 ways to get data from an array..sometimes i use

$username=      $data['username'];
$first_name=    $data['first_name'];

and sometimes,

$username=      $data->username;
$first_name=    $data->first_name;

Anytime i have an array, i know 1 of them will work, and it works..

but i am unable to understand what is the difference between them, I am never sure which one to use.

I google it a lot but unable to find any explanation.

Kindly guide me

Thanks

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/15521479/php-variable-vs-array-vs-object — Chetan Ameta, Feb 08 '16 at 13:28

score 8 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 08 '16 at 13:28

8

That's a misconception.

The upper syntax with square brackets will only work for arrays (or objects implementing ArrayAccess).

The lower syntax using the T_OBJECT_OPERATOR will only work on objects. You cannot access arrays like that.

Compare the following links in the PHP manual:

answered Feb 08 '16 at 13:28

Gordon

can you also tell , what is the difference between `->` and `=>` – dev90 Feb 08 '16 at 14:00
1

@Kirmani88 the Reference your question got closed with is a great resource. Check it, please. – Gordon Feb 08 '16 at 15:19
Thanks! I just go through the reference links and it helped a lot :) – dev90 Feb 08 '16 at 16:13

1 Answers1