Question

I tried defining the array $data in my Code Igniter controller as follows.

<?php if ( ! defined('BASEPATH')) exit('No direct script access allowed');

    class Welcome extends CI_Controller {

        /**
         * welcome controller
         */
        $data = array();

        public function index()
        {
            $this->load->view('welcome_message', $data);
        }
    }

?>

However, this error surfaces.

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_VARIABLE, expecting T_FUNCTION in 
/home/users/davidfaux/testApp/application/controllers/welcome.php on line 8

Moving $data into the index() function fixes the error. Why?

Answer 1

<?php if ( ! defined('BASEPATH')) exit('No direct script access allowed');

    class Welcome extends CI_Controller {

        /**
         * welcome controller
         */
        **private** $data = array();

        public function index()
        {
            $this->load->view('welcome_message', $this->data);
        }
    }

?>