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 Listing Inventory Items Introducing Arrays

Posted by Sayth Renshaw
Sayth Renshaw
1,763 Points

Old Array syntax.

I notice in the introduction to arrays that it follows the old array syntax of $name = array("something",)

Since 5.4 arrays have the much more pythonic

$name = ['something',] syntax. Is it best to continue to use the older version or change to the new where language version permits.

3 Answers

Andrew Shook
Andrew Shook
31,709 Points
Andrew Shook
Andrew Shook
31,709 Points

I would say it depends on what you are coding and if you want it to be backwards compatible. I personally still use the "array()" syntax, but that is only because I have a keyboard shortcut that types it out for me.

Sayth Renshaw
Sayth Renshaw
1,763 Points

So there is no benefit, you don't get better exceptions or performance out of using the new syntax?

Andrew Shook
Andrew Shook
31,709 Points
Andrew Shook
Andrew Shook
31,709 Points

There is no benefit, other than typing less, that I know of. One is just a shorthand for the other.

Sayth Renshaw
Sayth Renshaw
1,763 Points
Sayth Renshaw
Sayth Renshaw
1,763 Points

No Answer added comment as an answer