syntax error, unexpected '=' in eval()'d code

Question

What is wrong with this code:

<?php eval(" $start = microtime(true)*1000; echo 'hello'; $end=microtime(true)*1000; $time = $end-$start; $time = round($time,4); echo '<br />Time taken: '.$time.'ms<br />'; "); ?>

It's exactly one line code(dont ask why) but for readablility I repeat

<?php 
eval(" $start = microtime(true)*1000; 
    echo 'hello'; 
    $end=microtime(true)*1000; 
    $time = $end-$start; 
    $time = round($time,4); 
    echo '<br />Time taken: '.$time.'ms<br />';
");  
?>

I get this error: Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '=' in ...\test2.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

There isn't really any good reason for using eval() whether it's part of something bigger or not - there's always a better way than eval() — Mark Baker
– Mark Baker, Commented Jun 29, 2013 at 21:30
@Dharman It being part of something bigger does not make it less unnerving. — Sverri M. Olsen
– Sverri M. Olsen, Commented Jun 29, 2013 at 21:32
Use single quotes around the outer string. and escape the inner quotes. You have a variable $start which PHP is interpolating in double quotes to a scalar, to which you cannot assign via =. — Michael Berkowski
– Michael Berkowski, Commented Jun 29, 2013 at 21:32

dev-null-dweller · Accepted Answer · 2018-02-09 16:51:11Z

10

When using double quotes, you have to escape every dollar sign, without it, php will try to resolve variables from your scope into the final string.

Since you probably don't have $start variable defined, it is treated as empty string and your code starts with '='.

edited Feb 9, 2018 at 16:51

answered Jun 29, 2013 at 21:32

dev-null-dweller

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1 Comment

Dharman Over a year ago

I knew it was something simple. (facepalm). Question closed

Expedito · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-29 21:36:42Z

0

Try this:

eval(' $start = microtime(true)*1000; 
    echo \'hello\'; 
    $end=microtime(true)*1000; 
    $time = $end-$start; 
    $time = round($time,4); 
    echo \'<br />Time taken: \'.$time.\'ms<br />\';
');

answered Jun 29, 2013 at 21:36

Expedito

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