Variable Variables

Code

<?php

/*
 * Copyright (c) 2026 Jeffery L. Paris <jparis@phpog.com>.
 * Free for personal and internal use. Paid project use requires visible credit
 * to Jeffery L. Paris. Corporate use requires a paid license fee unless a
 * separate written license states otherwise.
 */

/**
 * Variable Variables.
 *
 * Purpose:
 * Demonstrates controlled use of PHP variable variables.
 *
 * @param string $selected_name Allowed variable name to read.
 * @return array Lookup result.
 */
function ogSnippetVariableVariables(string $selected_name): array {
	$enterprise_status = 'ready';
	$serenity_status = 'flying';
	$rocinante_status = 'burning hard';

	$allowed_names = array('enterprise_status', 'serenity_status', 'rocinante_status');
	$selected_name = trim($selected_name);

	$result = array(
		'allowed' => false,
		'name' => $selected_name,
		'value' => ''
	);

	if (in_array($selected_name, $allowed_names, true) === false) {
		return $result;
	}

	$result['allowed'] = true;
	$result['value'] = $$selected_name;

	return $result;
}

$status_report = ogSnippetVariableVariables('serenity_status');

echo 'Variable variable value: '.$status_report['value'];