Static array in PHP function not working

Question

PHP - Testing a simple function with a static array variable. I assume the static variable declared in the function would make it available outside of the function.

This function just takes a message and adds it to the errors[] array, and then be able to use this list of errors[] outside the function.

I get the error message: "Notice: Undefined variable: errors in....on line 10"

Line 10 has the code, "print_r($errors);"

function addErrors($errmessage){
    static $errors = array();
    $errors[] = $errmessage; 
}
addErrors('test1');
addErrors('test2');
print_r($errors);

Your input is appreciated!

Answer 1

$errors is a static variable inside the function, you cannot access it from the global scope.

here's an example how to achieve what you are trying to do :

PHP 7 < :

<?php

/**
* @param string|null the error message to add or null
* @return array|null returns all errors if provided with null 
*/
function errors($error = null) {
   static $errors = [];
   if($error !== null) {
       $errors[] = $error;
       return null;
   } else {
       return $errors;
   }
}

errors('Error !');
errors('Another !');
print_r(errors());

PHP 7 >= :

<?php

function errors(string $error = null): ?array {
   static $errors = [];
   if($error !== null) {
       $errors[] = $error;
       return null;
   } else {
       return $errors;
   }
}

errors('Error !');
errors('Another !');
print_r(errors());