Question

When calling a function is there a way to simplify the argument list? Instead of using $blank.

$subscribe=1;
    $database->information($blank,$blank,$blank,$blank,$blank,$blank,$subscribe,$blank,$blank,$blank,$blank,$blank);



    function information ($search,$id,$blank,$category,$recent,$comment,$subscribe,$pages,$pending,$profile,$deleted,$reported) {
    //code
    }

Answer 1

You could pass in an array with the specified keys, and merge it with an array of default values

So instead of

function foo($arg1 = 3, $arg2 = 5, $arg3 = 7) { }

You’d have

function foo($args) {
   $defaults = array(
      'arg1' => '',
      'arg2' => null,
      'arg3' => 7
   );

   // merge passed in array with defaults
   $args = array_merge($defaults, $args);

   // set variables within local scope
   foreach($args as $key => $arg) { 
       // this is to make sure that only intended arguments are passed
       if(isset($defaults[$key])) ${$key} = $arg; 
   }

    // rest of your code
}

Then call it as

foo(array('arg3' => 2));