Parse error: syntax error, unexpected [

Question

I have this simple function

  function render($template, $values = [])
{
    // if template exists, render it
    if (file_exists("../templates/$template"))
    {
        // extract variables into local scope
        extract($values);

        // render header
        require("../templates/header.php");

        // render template
        require("../templates/$template");

        // render footer
        require("../templates/footer.php");
    }

    // else err
    else
    {
        trigger_error("Invalid template: $template", E_USER_ERROR);
    }

This works fine when I am working on my localhost, but when I uploaded the files on my webhost and this function is used in a php file as follows->

<?php

   // configuration
   require("../includes/config.php"); 

   render("mainpage_template.php", ["title" => "Welcome "]);




   ?>

I get this parse error written in the title.Why is it working only on my localmachine?

What version of PHP are you running on the webhost? Literal array notation was added in 5.4, so `[]` won't work in 5.3. — Barmar, Dec 31 '13 at 22:52
Can you paste the whole error that you received? By the way, `require` isn't a function, you doesn't must add brackets. — , Dec 31 '13 at 22:53
@VladGincher:`echo`, `print` also arent functions, but you can still add brackets. Don't teach people wrong stuff. — Glavić, Dec 31 '13 at 23:01
@Glavić, I doesn't said that he can't, I said that he doesn't have to use them. Maybe I said the wrong word, I mean to the `(` and `)`. — , Dec 31 '13 at 23:04

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 31 '13 at 22:53

1

Are you using php 5.4 on your local? the render line is using the new way of initializing arrays. Try replacing ["title" => "Welcome "] with array("title" => "Welcome ")

answered Dec 31 '13 at 22:53

hanleyhansen

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Parse error: syntax error, unexpected [

1 Answers1