How to return an array from a function in PHP?

To return the result of the function, you must use the operator return .

After that, you can assign the result of the function to a variable.

Example:

 function parseDesc() { return []; } $productDesc = parseDesc(); 

Dear @Egor Smolyakov @Ipatiev answered your question and this is half the answer. This answer is absolutely correct, if the result of your function is to generate an array of $productDesc But if your function performs another task, and generating an array is a side effect, then you will most likely have to change the format of the output

Example was

 function parseDesc() { return $result; } 

It became

 function parseDesc() { return ['result'=>$result,'arr'=>$productDesc]; } $productDesc = parseDesc(); $productDesc = productDesc['arr']; 

Or use the link in the function, which is fraught with errors when the function is called again

 $productDesc=[] function parseDesc() { &$productDesc=$a; return $result; } 

But at the design stage, I choose - either this is a function that fulfills the obligation specifically assigned to it, or an entity with its characteristic properties.

Example

 class ParseDesc{ protected $product_desc=[]; public function doParse(){ $this->product_desc=$a; return $result; } public function getProductDesc(){ return $this->product_desc; } } 

Application

 $obj= new ParseDesc(); $parser_result=$obj->doParse(); $productDesc=$obj->getProductDesc();