keyword to set variable inside loop only once - HTML Forums

DamianWarS · 10-19-2009, 08:31 AM

i want to be able to declare and set a variable inside a while loop but only once. So the first time the loop runs a variable is set but each additional time it isn't reset to that value. I know there is a keyword to tell a variable to do this but I can't remember it and I can't find it anywhere.... does anyone know what i'm talking about and what this keyword is?

Horus_Kol · 10-19-2009, 10:29 PM

set a flag outside of the loop:

PHP Code:


			
$done = false;

for ($i = 0; $i < 10; $i++) {

  if (!$done) {
    dosomething();
    $done = true;
  }

}

DamianWarS · 10-20-2009, 12:59 PM

thanks for the reply but that's not what i'm talking about. After I read your post I decided to look at some old code of mine and I found my answer. the keyword is the "static" keyword and here is an example for what I want to use it for:

PHP Code:


			
while(1==1) {
    static $i= 0;
    $i++;
}

with my example the keyword "static" initializes and sets $1 to 0 but it only does it once. the next loop it does not reset $1 back to 0 but it will continue to increment $i to the next value.

scoutt · 10-22-2009, 09:03 AM

DamianWarS, that doesn't even make sense. a for() loop does exactly that so why would you need static? You're whole concept of the word 'static' is not even being used in what you are using it for. static means you set a variable in a OOP (class) setup so that it makes them accessible without needing an instantiation of the class.

Your loop there is a never ending loop, it will never stop. Therefore crashing your browser.

lol, this does the exact same thing

PHP Code:


			
$i=0;
while(1==1) {    
    $i++;
}

DamianWarS · 10-22-2009, 12:24 PM

I know the loop is never ending but I thought it was obvious that it was just a simplified example. I also know the static keyword is not reserved for this use but even still it is working for this use. I will let you figure out what scenario would come up where this could be beneficial, otherwise you can do what you want with this.