[FIXED] How can I add a condition inside a php array?

Issue

Here is the array

$anArray = array(
   "theFirstItem" => "a first item",
   if(True){
     "conditionalItem" => "it may appear base on the condition",
   }
   "theLastItem"  => "the last item"

);

But I get the PHP Parse error, why I can add a condition inside the array, what's happen??:

PHP Parse error:  syntax error, unexpected T_IF, expecting ')'

Solution

Unfortunately that's not possible at all.

If having the item but with a NULL value is ok, use this:

$anArray = array(
   "theFirstItem" => "a first item",
   "conditionalItem" => $condition ? "it may appear base on the condition" : NULL,
   "theLastItem"  => "the last item"
);

Otherwise you have to do it like that:

$anArray = array(
   "theFirstItem" => "a first item",
   "theLastItem"  => "the last item"
);

if($condition) {
   $anArray['conditionalItem'] = "it may appear base on the condition";
}

If the order matters, it'll be even uglier:

$anArray = array("theFirstItem" => "a first item");
if($condition) {
   $anArray['conditionalItem'] = "it may appear base on the condition";
}
$anArray['theLastItem'] = "the last item";

You could make this a little bit more readable though:

$anArray = array();
$anArray['theFirstItem'] = "a first item";
if($condition) {
   $anArray['conditionalItem'] = "it may appear base on the condition";
}
$anArray['theLastItem'] = "the last item";

Answered By - ThiefMaster

Answer Checked By - Robin (PHPFixing Admin)