Create a function in PHP

Instructor: [0:00] To create a function, you need to first decide which piece of code belongs in it. Something that takes up a large portion of this file is this posts array. Let's encapsulate this chunk of code by moving it to its own function.

[0:15] We'll start by creating a new function at the top of the file with the function keyword. It's good practice to put all functions at or near the top of files.

[0:27] Next comes the name of the function. One of the hardest things in programming, especially with creating functions, is figuring out how to name it. Regular functions have a name that is specific to the task it carries out. Since we want to essentially return a list of posts in this first function, let's call this getPosts.

[0:50] It's common to use camel case when naming functions, which is the first word lowercase, and the first letter of every subsequent word capitalized.

[1:01] You can name functions just about however you wish as long as it doesn't start with a number or odd character. Common convention and practice is to use standard camel case names. If you are wondering what to name your function, you can also name it with an action object. The action here is get and the object is posts.

[1:25] Next comes an open and closed parenthesis, and then an open and closed curly bracket. These brackets segment out a code of this function so everything within these brackets belongs to it. It's also recommended to place a line break after the closing parenthesis and before this first curly bracket, just so you can easily tell where the function starts and ends.