$key=>$value -- are the words "key" and "value" arbitrar

[djbeta]

In the book I'm reading, the author said that the words $key and $value are arbitrary... but I'm not sure I see how that's possible..

here's the example in the book--------------

// Create the array.
$movies = array (
'10' => 'Casablanca',
'9.65' => 'To Kill a Mockingbird',
'2.35' => 'The English Patient',
'8' => 'Traffic');

// Display the movies sorted by title:
echo 'Sorted by title:<br /><pre>Rating Title
';
asort($movies);
foreach ($movies as $key => $value) {
echo "$key\t$value\n";
}
echo '</pre>';

would it be the same with "$duck" and "$goose" ??--------

// Create the array.
$movies = array (
'10' => 'Casablanca',
'9.65' => 'To Kill a Mockingbird',
'2.35' => 'The English Patient',
'8' => 'Traffic');

// Display the movies sorted by title:
echo 'Sorted by title:<br /><pre>Rating Title
';
asort($movies);
foreach ($movies as $duck => $goose) {
echo "$duck\t$goose\n";
}
echo '</pre>';
------------------------

if it's true that key and value don't have to be called key and value,
how would php know which is the duck and which is the goose ????


am i making any sense.. ???

 

[sleipnir214]

The names of the variables in the $key and $value positions in a foreach are completely arbitrary. PHP knows which is which from the "=>" operator between the $key and $value positions in the foreach statement. Notice this operator is the same one you used to assign values to your associative array.

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TANSTAAFL!!

 

[djbeta]

Thanks very much. I do get it now after your confirmation and more examples. I had in fact tried to find my answer from other sources (including the text I was quoting from the book that had in fact had plenty of errors in it-- so i was partially wondering about the author's use of the word "arbitrary" but didn't think about that until being led by you to think about the due diligence I had in fact done) I don't have a friend or associate who knows a thing about php. Next time I post I will try to display these facts if that will help. Thanks again.