PHP: Execute string as a varible

Question

I am trying to echo a string as a variable ($account_pk) but it just output's "$api_key1" and not the output of the variable, the 1 in $api_key1 is set when $key_num equals to 1.

Part of the code:

$key_num = $_POST['keynum'];
$account_pk = '$api_key' . $key_num;
echo $account_pk;

UPDATE: There is not a variable called $api_key I need $account_pk to combine the string $api_key with the variable $key_num then find a way to echo the real variable $api_key1

http://php.net/manual/en/language.types.string.php – PeeHaa Jan 24 '15 at 22:55 — PeeHaa, Jan 24 '15 at 22:55

Mario A · Answer 1 · 2015-01-24T23:03:13.697

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just use double quotes instead of single quotes:

$account_pk = "$api_key" . $key_num;

Or like @Devon wrote, no quotes at all. Quotes make only sense if you mix a static string with varialbes, like this:

$text = "Hey $name, how are you?";

And even in this situation I prefer to write it this way

$text = "Hey ".$name." how are you?";

because for me it is more readable.

edited Jan 24 '15 at 23:03

answered Jan 24 '15 at 22:55

Mario A

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Or no quotes at all. Seems unnecessary in this case. – Devon Bessemer Jan 24 '15 at 22:57
hey, you're absolutely right – Mario A Jan 24 '15 at 22:58
I would like the variable to become $api_key1 and echo the value of the variable. I've tried your suggestion and it just outputs the number. – Richard McClendon Jan 24 '15 at 22:59
There is not a varible called '$api_key' but there are ones called '$api_key1' – Richard McClendon Jan 24 '15 at 23:04
You can't concatenate a variable name as if it were a string variable. In your case, use an array – Mario A Jan 24 '15 at 23:06
You are wrong, @invisal just solved the question. – Richard McClendon Jan 24 '15 at 23:08
@RichardMcClendon, I don't know about wrong. I think misunderstood what you were asking... – Devon Bessemer Jan 24 '15 at 23:10

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 24 '15 at 23:04

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I believe what the OP want is

$name = "api_key" . $key_num;
echo $$name;

answered Jan 24 '15 at 23:04

invisal

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the dark side of php ;) – Mario A Jan 24 '15 at 23:13

PHP: Execute string as a varible

2 Answers2