Question

This is simple function

function check_nickname($item)
{
    if (preg_match('/^[a-z\d_]{1,15}$/', $item)) {
    return true;
  } else {
    return false;
  }
}

It returns only true or false.

But If it is false I want it to return False + some text in a string or something.

if(check_nickname($item))

will get true/false. but if it is false then how can I echo some text string ?

Answer 1

To do that you need to send a variable to the function that can be modified within the function. You do that with references. Example explains it better than words;

function check_nickname($item, &$sometext)
{
    if (preg_match('/^[a-z\d_]{1,15}$/', $item)) {
    return true;
  } else {
    $some_text = 'enter your message here';
    return false;
  }
}

if(!check_nickname($item, $txt))
{
   echo $txt; // echoes "enter your message here";
}