PHP Miscellaneous Function Quiz: All Miscellaneous Functions [2019].

Posted on March 31, 2019 by Chris Larham [Site Administrator] — Leave a comment

HOW THE QUIZ WORKS:

Clicking the ‘randomize’ button situated above the reference table generates a new table whereby the function descriptions, function syntaxes, and function return values are randomized. The quiz involves matching the function descriptions, function syntaxes, and function return values to the correct function name. Information relating to the randomization of table cells will be displayed for three seconds, before disappearing.

On a desktop computer, table elements are selected by left-clicking the desired table cell and holding the left click in the mouse down position for one second before releasing the left click. The text inside the table cell will turn red to indicate that the one-second mouse left-click has successfully selected a table cell. To then swap the selected table cell with the target table cell, simply repeat the one-second left mouse-click process on the target cell; the table cells will swap position. To de-select a table cell, simply repeat the one-second left mouse-click process on the original table cell.

To select a table element on a touchscreen device (mobile, tablet), simply touch the desired table cell and maintain the touch for one second before removing your finger from the screen. The text inside the table cell will turn red to indicate that the one-second touch has successfully selected a table cell. To then swap the selected table cell with the target table cell, simply repeat the one-second touch process on the target cell; the table cells will swap position. To de-select a table cell, simply repeat the one-second touch process on the original table cell.

Normal touchscreen scrolling behaviour is exhibited by the cells with a light green background; cells without a light green background will not respond to normal touchscreen scrolling. The table is positioned in such a way that the user can also initiate touchscreen scrolling by swiping to the right or left of the table.

When a row consists of the correct function name, function description, function syntax, and function return value, the background colour of the row will change from ‘transparent’ to ‘khaki’; this provides visual feedback that the row is complete.

Once the entire table is complete, a paragraph of feedback will congratulate the user and provide the following information: date and time of quiz commencement; date and time of quiz completion; and the length of time it took the user to complete the quiz.

VIEWPORT OPTIONS:

Example of the mobile layout — An example of the layout designed for mobile phones

Example of the tablet layout — An example of the layout designed for tablets

Example of the desktop layout — An example of the layout designed for desktop computers

PURPOSE:

This webpage serves two purposes:

It provides a reference table for the PHP miscellaneous functions, with information extracted and condensed from w3schools.com and php.net.
It enables users to complete a quiz related to the PHP miscellaneous functions.

USAGE:

For each PHP miscellaneous function there are four table cells of information: the function name; the function description; the function syntax; and the function return value. There are three layouts available – ‘mobile‘, ‘tablet‘, and ‘desktop‘.

Click the relevant button below to display the PHP miscellaneous functions reference table, sized appropriately for the desired viewport. A ‘RANDOMIZE‘ button appears above the reference table once the viewport is selected; clicking this button facilitates the commencement of a quiz.

FUNCTION NAME	FUNCTION DESCRIPTION	FUNCTION SYNTAX	FUNCTION RETURN VALUE
`connection_aborted()` [connection_aborted – Check whether client disconnected]	This function checks whether the client disconnected [‘aborted the connection’].	`connection_aborted();`	`connection_aborted()`: returns 1 if the client disconnected; 0 otherwise.
`connection_status()` [connection_status – Returns connection status bitfield]	This function returns the connection status bitfield.	`connection_status();`	`connection_status()`: returns the connection status bitfield – one of four possible values: 0 [`CONNECTION_NORMAL`]; 1 [`CONNECTION_ABORTED`]; 2 [`CONNECTION_TIMEOUT`]; or 3 [`CONNECTION_ABORTED & CONNECTION_TIMEOUT`].
`constant()` [constant – Returns the value of a constant]	This function returns the value of the constant represented by `name`.	`constant(name);`	`constant()`: returns the value of the constant on success; FALSE and an E_WARNING-level error on failure.
`define()` [define – Defines a named constant at runtime]	This function defines a named constant at runtime.	`define(name, value, case_insensitive` [optional parameter with a default value of FALSE]`);` [`name`: it is not recommended – although it is possible – to `define()` constants with reserved or invalid names (whose values can only be retrieved through the use of the `constant()` function). `value`: in PHP 7 array values are accepted, in addition to the types accepted by PHP 5 (`integer`, `float`, `string`, `boolean`, and `NULL`). Resource constants can be defined, but this is not recommended since it can lead to unpredictable behaviour. `case_insensitive`: if set to TRUE the constant will be defined case-insensitively and stored in lowercase. Case-insensitive definitions are deprecated as of PHP 7.3.0.]	`define()`: returns TRUE on success; FALSE on failure.
`defined()` [defined – Checks whether a given named constant exists]	This function checks whether the constant represented by `name` exists and is defined. Since `defined()` only applies to constants, use `isset()` to check whether a variable exists, and `function_exists()` to ascertain the existence of a function.	`defined(name);`	`defined()`: returns TRUE if the named constant represented by `name` has been defined; FALSE otherwise.
`eval()` [eval – Evaluate a string as PHP code]	This language construct evaluates the passed `code` as PHP code. As it facilitates the execution of arbitrary PHP code, its use is discouraged. Do not pass any user-provided data to it without correct prior validation.	`eval(code);` [`code` represents valid PHP code to be evaluated. Opening and closing PHP tags must not be included. A `return` statement will immediately terminate evaluation of the code. `code` is executed in the scope of the code calling `eval()`; thus, any variables that are defined/altered during execution of the `eval()` call will persist after its termination.]	`eval()`: returns NULL unless `return` is called in the code — in which case, the value passed to `return` is returned. A ParseError exception is thrown if a parse error is encountered in the evaluated code in PHP 7; beforehand, FALSE would be returned and the ensuing code execution continued normally. Parse errors cannot be caught in `eval()` using `set_error_handler()`. A fatal error causes the whole script to exit.
`exit()` [exit – Output a message and terminate the current script]	This language construct – equivalent to the `die()` language construct – terminates execution [thus, ‘exits’] the script. Even when `exit()` is called, `shutdown functions` and `object destructors` will always be executed. Since it is a language construct, `exit` can be called without parentheses if no `status` is passed.	`exit(status` [optional parameter]`);` [If present, `status` can be either a string or an integer. If a string, `exit()` will print it just before exiting. If an integer it should be in the range 0 – 254; 255 is reserved by PHP, while 0 is used to terminate the script successfully.]	`exit()`: no value is returned.
`get_browser()` [get_browser – Tells what the user’s browser is capable of]	This function attempts to determine the capabilities of the user’s browser, by referencing [‘getting’] the browser’s information in the `browscap.ini` file (this file is not bundled with PHP but can be downloaded separately).	`get_browser(user_agent` [optional parameter]`, return_array` [optional parameter, with a default value of FALSE]`);` [By default, the value of the HTTP User-Agent header is used for the `user_agent` parameter; this can be altered, or bypassed entirely by passing in NULL. If `return_array` is set to TRUE, this function will return an array instead of an object.]	`get_browser()`: returns an object or an array containing various data elements pertaining to the browser – major and minor version numbers, ID string, TRUE/FALSE values for browser capabilities such as frames, JavaScript, cookies.
`__halt_compiler()` [__halt_compiler – Halts the compiler execution]	This function halts the execution of the compiler, and can only be used from the outermost scope. It is useful for embedding data in PHP scripts, like the installation files. If `halt_compiler()` is present in a file, byte position of the data start can be determined by the `__COMPILER_HALT_OFFSET__` constant.	`__halt_compiler();`	`__halt_compiler()`: no value is returned [‘VOID’].
`highlight_file()` [highlight_file – Syntax highlighting of a file]	This function – an alias of `show_source()` – prints out or returns a syntax-highlighted version of the code contained in `filename`, using the colours defined in the built-in syntax-highlighter for PHP. Many servers are configured to highlight files with a phps extension automatically.	`highlight_file(filename, return` [optional boolean parameter, with a default value of FALSE]`);` [`filename` represents the path to the PHP file to be highlighted. `return`: when set to TRUE, this parameter makes the function return the highlighted code rather than printing it out; internal output buffering is then used, so this function cannot be used inside an `ob_start()` callback function.]	`highlight_file()`: if `return` is set to TRUE, this function returns the highlighted code as a string rather than printing it out. Otherwise, TRUE is returned on success; FALSE on failure.
`highlight_string()` [highlight_string – Syntax highlighting of a string]	This function outputs or returns html markup for a syntax-highlighted version of the given PHP code `string`, using the colours defined in the built-in syntax highlighter for PHP.	`highlight_string(string, return` [optional boolean parameter, with a default value of FALSE]`);` [`string` specifies the PHP code to be highlighted; the opening tag should be included. `return`: if set to TRUE, the function returns the highlighted code rather than printing it out.]	`highlight_string()`: if `return` is set to TRUE, the highlighted code is returned as a string rather than being printed out. Otherwise, TRUE is returned on success; FALSE on failure.
`hrtime()` [hrtime – Get the system’s high resolution time]	This function returns the system’s high resolution time, counted from an arbitrary point in time. The timestamp returned by this function cannot be either increased or decreased.	`hrtime(get_as_number` [optional boolean parameter, with a default value of FALSE]`);` [`get_as_number` specifies whether the high resolution time should be returned in array or number format.]	`hrtime()`: if `get_as_number` is FALSE then an array of integers in the form [seconds, nanoseconds] is returned. Otherwise, the nanoseconds are returned as integer [64-bit systems] or float [32-bit systems].
`ignore_user_abort()` [ignore_user_abort – Set whether a client disconnect should abort script execution]	This function sets whether a client [‘user’] disconnect should abort script execution. If `value` is set to TRUE then script execution continues regardless of a client disconnect; thus, the script ignores the disconnection. Similarly, if a script’s tty [‘teletype’/terminal] goes away without the script being terminated, a TRUE `value` stops the script from dying the next time it tries to write anything.	`ignore_user_abort(value` [optional boolean parameter, with no default value]`);` [If given, `value` sets the `ignore_user_abort` PHP ini setting to the given `value`. If `value` is not set, this function simply returns the previous setting without changing it.]	`ignore_user_abort()`: returns the previous setting, as an integer.
`pack()` [pack – Pack data into binary string]	This function packs the given `arguments` into a binary string according to `format`. Perl provided the inspiration for this function; all `format`ting codes work the same as in Perl, although some – like “u” – are missing. Only `unpack()` – `pack()`‘s functional antagonist – is affected by the distinction between signed and unsigned values; `pack()` gives the same result for signed and unsigned format codes. PHP internally stores integers as signed values of a machine-dependent size; operations and literals that yield numbers outside the boundaries of the integer type will be stored as float. When these floats are packed as integers, they are first cast to the integer type — this may or may not result in the desired byte sequence.	`pack(format, arguments` [optional parameter]`);` [There are currently thirty implemented `format` codes: a (NUL-padded string); A (SPACE-padded string); h (hex string, low nibble first); H (hex string, high nibble first); c (signed char); C (unsigned char); s (signed short, 16-bit, machine byte order); S (unsigned short, 16-bit, machine byte order); n (unsigned short, 16-bit, big endian byte order); v (unsigned short, 16-bit, little endian byte order); i (signed integer); I (unsigned integer); l (signed long, 32-bit, machine byte order); L (unsigned long, 32-bit, machine byte order); N (unsigned long, 32-bit, big endian byte order); V (unsigned long, 32-bit, little endian byte order); q (signed long long, 64-bit, machine byte order); Q (unsigned long long, 64-bit, machine byte order); J (unsigned long long, 64-bit, big endian byte order); P (unsigned long long, 64-bit, little endian byte order); f (float); g (float, little endian byte order); G (float, big endian byte order); d (double); e (double, little endian byte order); E (double, big endian byte order); x (NUL byte); X (Back up one byte); Z (NUL-padded string); and @ (NUL-fill to absolute position).]	`pack()`: returns a binary string containing data.
`php_check_syntax()` [php_check_syntax – Check the PHP syntax of (and execute) the specified file]	This function tests `filename` for scripting errors, performing a syntax (lint) check. It is similar to using `php -l` from the command line, except that this function executes – but doesn’t output – the checked `filename`. If a function is defined in `filename` it will be available to the file that called `php_check_syntax()`, but output from `filename` will be suppressed. This function has been deprecated and removed from PHP for technical reasons — to obtain the functionality provided by this function, use `php -l somefile.php` from the commandline instead.	`php_check_syntax(filename, error_message` [optional parameter]`);` [If `error_message` is used, it will contain the error message produced by the syntax check. `error_message` is passed by reference.]	`php_check_syntax()`: returns TRUE if the lint check passes; FALSE if the lint check fails or if `filename` cannot be opened.
`php_strip_whitespace()` [php_strip_whitespace – Return source with stripped comments and whitespace]	This function returns the PHP source code in `filename` with PHP comments and whitespace removed [‘stripped’]. This is similar to using `php -w` from the commandline. This function respects the value of the `short_open_tag` ini directive.	`php_strip_whitespace(filename);` [The string `filename` represents the path to the PHP file.]	`php_strip_whitespace()`: returns the stripped source code as a string on success; an empty string on failure. Before PHP 5.0.1, this function would only return an empty string.
`sapi_windows_cp_conv()` [sapi_windows_cp_conv – Convert string from one codepage to another]	This function converts `subject` string from one codepage to another.	`sapi_windows_cp_conv(in_codepage, out_codepage, subject);` [`in_codepage`: the codepage of the `subject` string — either the codepage name or identifier. `out_codepage`: the codepage to convert the `subject` string to — either the codepage name or identifier. `subject` represents the string to convert.]	`sapi_windows_cp_conv()`: returns `subject` string converted to `out_codepage`, or NULL on failure. If invalid codepages are given OR if the subject is not valid for `in_codepage`, this function issues E_WARNING-level errors.
`sapi_windows_cp_get()` [sapi_windows_cp_get – Get process codepage]	This function returns [‘gets’] the identifier of the codepage of the current process.	`sapi_windows_cp_get(kind);` [`kind` denotes the type of codepage and can be either `‘ansi’` or `‘oem’`.]	`sapi_windows_cp_get()`: returns the codepage identifier.
`sapi_windows_cp_is_utf8()` [sapi_windows_cp_is_utf8 – Indicates whether the codepage is UTF-8 compatible]	This function indicates whether the codepage of the current process is UTF-8 compatible.	`sapi_windows_cp_is_utf8();`	`sapi_windows_cp_is_utf8()`: returns whether the codepage of the current process is UTF-8 compatible, as a boolean.
`sapi_windows_cp_set()` [sapi_windows_cp_set – Set process codepage]	This function sets the codepage of the current process.	`sapi_windows_cp_set(codepage);` [`codepage` represents a codepage identifier; integer format.]	`sapi_windows_cp_set()`: returns TRUE on success; FALSE on failure.
`sapi_windows_vt100_support()` [sapi_windows_vt100_support – Get or set VT100 support for the specified stream associated to an output buffer of a Windows console]	PHP tries to enable the VT100 feature of the `STDOUT/STDERR` streams upon startup. If these streams are redirected to a file, VT100 features may not be enabled. If VT100 support is enabled, one can use control sequences from the VT100 terminal. They allow the modification of the terminal’s output, and – on Windows – are known as Console Virtual Terminal Sequences. This function uses the ENABLE_VIRTUAL_TERMINAL_PROCESSING flag implemented in the Windows 10 API, so the VT100 feature may not be available on older versions of Windows.	`sapi_windows_vt100_support(stream, enable` [optional boolean parameter, with no default value]`);` [`stream` specifies the stream upon which the function will operate. `enable` specifies whether the VT100 feature will be enabled [TRUE] or not [FALSE].]	`sapi_windows_vt100_support()`: if `enable` is omitted, the function returns TRUE if `stream` has VT100 control codes enabled, FALSE if not. If `enable` has been specified, the function will try to enable or disable the VT100 features of `stream` — if the enabling/disabling of VT100 features has been successful then the function returns TRUE; otherwise, FALSE is returned.
`sleep()` [sleep – Delay execution]	This function delays the program execution [makes the program ‘sleep’] for the given number of `seconds`.	`sleep(seconds);` [`seconds` specifies the halt time in seconds.]	`sleep()`: returns zero on success; FALSE on error. If a signal interrupts the call, `sleep()` returns a non-zero value — on Windows, this value will be equal to the WAIT_IO_COMPLETION constant within the Windows API; on other platforms, the return value will be the number of seconds left to sleep. An E_WARNING is generated if the specified number of `seconds` is negative. Before PHP 5.3.4 on Windows, this function always returns NULL when `sleep` has occurred.
`sys_getloadavg()` [sys_getloadavg – Gets system load average]	This function returns [‘gets’] three samples representing the average system load (the number of processes in the system run queue) over the last 1, 5, and 15 minutes.	`sys_getloadavg();`	`sys_getloadavg()`: returns an array of three samples [last 1, 5, and 15 minutes].
`time_nanosleep()` [time_nanosleep – Delay for a number of seconds and nanoseconds]	This function delays program execution (makes the program execution ‘sleep’) for the period of time specified by `seconds` and `nanoseconds`.	`time_nanosleep(seconds, nanoseconds);` [`seconds` must be a non-negative integer. `nanoseconds` must be a non-negative integer less than one billion.]	`time_nanosleep()`: returns TRUE on success; FALSE on failure. If the delay was interrupted by a signal, an associative array will be returned comprising `seconds` [number of seconds remaining in the delay] and `nanoseconds` [the number of nanoseconds remaining in the delay]. This function has been available on Windows systems since PHP 5.3.0.
`time_sleep_until()` [time_sleep_until – Make the script sleep until the specified time]	This function makes the script sleep until the specified `timestamp`.	`time_sleep_until(timestamp);` [`timestamp` specifies the timestamp at which the script should wake.]	`time_sleep_until()`: returns TRUE on success; FALSE on failure. This function has been available on Windows system since PHP 5.3.0. An E_WARNING is generated if `timestamp` is in the past.
`uniqid()` [uniqid – Generate a unique ID]	This function returns an [optionally-`prefix`ed] unique identifier based on the current time in microseconds. This function is not considered cryptographically-secure; for cryptographically-secure values it is advisable to use `random_int()`, `random_bytes()`, or `openssl_random_pseudo_bytes()`. Most systems adjust system clock by NTP; it is possible that this function does not return unique ID for the process/thread. The `more_entropy` parameter should be used to increase the likelihood of uniqueness.	`uniqid(prefix` [optional string parameter]`, more_entropy` [optional boolean parameter]`);` [`prefix` is useful in cases where several identifiers might be generated simultaneously (at the same microsecond). If `more_entropy` is set to true, additional entropy – using the combined linear congruential generator – will be added at the end of the return value, increasing the likelihood of the result’s uniqueness.]	`uniqid()`: returns a timestamp-based unique identifier as a string. With an empty `prefix`, the returned string will be 13 characters long; if `more_entropy` is TRUE it will be 23 characters long.
`unpack()` [unpack – Unpack data from binary string]	This function unpacks from a `binary_string` into an associative array, according to the specified `format`. To facilitate data storage in an associative array, the different format codes must be named and separated by a forward slash (/). If a repeater argument is present, each of the array keys will have a sequence number behind the given name.	`unpack(format, binary_string, offset` [optional parameter, with a default value of 0]`);` [`binary_string` represents the packed data. `offset` represents the offset to start unpacking from.]	`unpack()`: returns an associative array containing unpacked elements of `binary_string`.
`usleep()` [usleep – Delay execution in microseconds]	This function delays program execution [makes the program ‘sleep’] for the specified number of `micro_`[μ]`seconds`.	`usleep(micro_seconds);` [`micro_seconds` specifies a halt time in microseconds (millionths of a second).]	`usleep()`: no value is returned.

About Chris Larham [Site Administrator]

Forty-year-old father of three wonderful children [William, Seth, and Alyssa]. Works as an Assistant Technical Officer in the Sterile Services Department of Treliske Hospital, Cornwall. Enjoys jogging, web design, learning programming languages, and supporting Arsenal FC. Obtained a BA degree in English from the University of Bolton in 2008, and has continued to gain qualifications in a diverse range of subjects thereafter.

Tagged with: PHP Miscellaneous Function Quiz, PHP Miscellaneous Function Reference Table, php.net, Pre-certification quiz, w3schools.com
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PHP Miscellaneous Function Quiz: All Miscellaneous Functions [2019].

HOW THE QUIZ WORKS:

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PURPOSE:

USAGE:

FILL IN FORM AND CLICK SUBMIT TO ADD YOUR STATISTICS TO THE LEADERBOARD:

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PHP Miscellaneous Function Quiz: All Miscellaneous Functions [2019].

HOW THE QUIZ WORKS:

VIEWPORT OPTIONS:

PURPOSE:

USAGE:

FILL IN FORM AND CLICK SUBMIT TO ADD YOUR STATISTICS TO THE LEADERBOARD:

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