[] operator not supported for strings, but is array?

Question

I've got several config files, and I'm trying to add them together by including them all in my script.

This returns an error [] operator not supported for strings, but $config is not a string?

I've tried declaring my array first like $config = []; and $config = array();, with no luck.

File: config1.php

$config[] = array(
    'database' => array(
        'name' => 'test'
    )
);

File: config2.php

$config[] = array(
    'sarCallbacks' => array(
        'test1',
        'test2',
        'test3'
    )
);

If I put the array key in the $config index, it gets even worse.

What am I doing wrong?

Note: I'm running PHP 5.5.9.

Are you certain you're not assigning $config as a string somewhere? — billyonecan
– billyonecan, Commented Apr 29, 2014 at 14:18
@KidDiamond no, it will override the value $config, using foreach() doesn't change the scope :) — billyonecan
– billyonecan, Commented Apr 29, 2014 at 14:29

mark · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-29 14:14:48Z

3

For PHP <= 5.3 it is

$config = array();

The new short-array-syntax $config = []; is for PHP5.4+ as documented in the PHP docs.

answered Apr 29, 2014 at 14:14

mark

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2 Comments

AbraCadaver Over a year ago

"Note: I'm running PHP 5.5.9."

RiggsFolly Over a year ago

@mark Not actually true. His code works fine in 5.2.9 and 5.3.22 and 5.5.9

billyonecan · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-29 14:59:09Z

2

As you mentioned in your comments, you're reusing the variable name $config within a foreach() loop, which overrides $config (control structures do not create a local scope). The value of $config then becomes the last value in your looped array, which is a string. You're then trying to append array elements to that string, resulting in the error above.

"The scope of a variable is the context within which it is defined. For the most part all PHP variables only have a single scope."

http://php.net/manual/en/language.variables.scope.php

answered Apr 29, 2014 at 14:59

billyonecan

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