Binary flags for functions in php

Question

Good day everyone.

I'm trying to figure out a way to use multiple flags for a function, without increasing number of arguments.

For example to use it like that some_func(flag1|flag2|flag3);

For now I did it like that

define('flag1', 1);
define('flag2', 2);
define('flag3', 4);

function flagtest($flags)
{
if ($flags & flag1)
    echo 'flag1 is on, '; 
if ($flags & flag2)
    echo 'flag2 is on, '; 
if ($flags & flag3)
    echo 'flag3 is on, '; 
}
flagtest(flag2 | flag3);

And it prings that flags 2 and 3 are on.

So, everything is working. But... I'm sure there's a better way to do it... Is that right? So, the question - how can I make it better? I'm sure there's a proper way to implement stuff like that.

possible duplicate of [pass multiple defines or const as a parameter to a class method](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9644085/pass-multiple-defines-or-const-as-a-parameter-to-a-class-method) — Brad, Mar 23 '12 at 14:36
Check http://www.shawnolson.net/a/601/setting_bits_and_flags_in_php.html — N.B., Mar 23 '12 at 14:43

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered May 26 '12 at 10:08

2

Apparently it is the way it should be done. There's no need to do it any other way if the desired outcome is as described.

answered May 26 '12 at 10:08

NewProger

2,945
9
40
58

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 23 '12 at 14:38

1

You might want to use an array for your $flags argument, like so:

function flagtest($flags = false)
{
    if (is_array($flags)
    {
        foreach ($flags as $index => $value)
        {
            if ($value == true) echo "flag $index is on\n";
        } 
    }
}

$my_flags = array(true, true, false);
flagtest($my_flags); // -> flag1 is on, flag2 is on,

answered Mar 23 '12 at 14:38

vzwick

11,008
5
43
63

I know that this can be done with arrays, but I don't want to use them for several reasons. – NewProger Mar 23 '12 at 14:42

Binary flags for functions in php

2 Answers2