Reference Guide: What does this symbol mean in PHP? (PHP Syntax)
Canonical Stack Overflow thread cataloging PHP operators and symbols: `$`, `->`, `=>`, `::`, `&`, `*`, `@`, and more.
Essential reference for beginners decoding unfamiliar syntax and for experienced developers brushing up on edge cases or lesser-known operators.
This Stack Overflow thread serves as a comprehensive reference guide for PHP operators and syntax symbols. The community-maintained collection addresses a longstanding challenge: the difficulty of searching for information about operators and special characters in PHP due to search engine limitations.
The thread catalogs essential PHP symbols including the variable prefix `$`, object property accessor `->`, array key-value separator `=>`, scope resolution operator `::`, reference operator `&`, pointer operator `*`, error control operator `@`, and numerous others. Each symbol is documented with explanations and links to dedicated Stack Overflow questions that explore use cases and edge cases in depth.
Created to overcome pre-2013 search limitations when special characters could not be easily indexed, the guide remains invaluable for developers. Beginners use it to decode unfamiliar syntax encountered in code, while experienced developers consult it to brush up on lesser-known operators or clarify edge cases. The wiki format enables ongoing community contributions to keep the reference current and comprehensive.
asked by Gordon on Stack Overflow (2010) · 5139 votes · Stack Overflow · CC BY-SA
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