I have a question about a parameter

[co.ador]

public static function OutputRating($varItem){ //rest of the method 

Where does the value of that parameter is coming from?
Or
Does this parameter get the value of the whole method?

Or why does this parameter is put here?

[baileylo]

It's coming from wherever the function is called. Somewhere in the code should be something that looks like this

<classname>::OutputRating($variable); 

Note that function should only be called using scope resolution operator.

Does this parameter get the value of the whole method?

What?

The parameter is put there so that it is obvious what value is passed in.

[co.ador]

you mean what value is passed in into the function right?

in this case would be $varItem sorry for my occurrences, I am learning php.

[baileylo]

yes

[co.ador]

Somewhere in the code should be something that looks like this

<classname>::OutputRating($variable); 

What do you mean somewhere in the method or the whole class?

The script I am analyzing has several method, one is OutputRating and inside that method these calls of other methods exist and all of them use the same parameter $varItem why is that posible?

Rating::CheckRatingsByIp($varItem) == 0) 

 $averageStars = Rating::CalculateAverageRating($varItem); 

I was wondering if the $varItem where is the $varItem variable is defined? inside the braces or some where before when used in classes and methods?


for further reference I have put the code being analyzed below

 public static function OutputRating($varItem)
      {
        // Verify $varItem was provided
        if ($varItem != null && strlen(trim($varItem)) != 0)
        {
          // Check if Magic QUotes is ON
          if (!get_magic_quotes_gpc())
          {
            $varItem = addslashes($varItem);
          }
          
          // Information for the Output
          $averageStars = Rating::CalculateAverageRating($varItem);
          
          // Check to see that the user has not already rated this item
          if (Rating::CheckRatingsByIp($varItem) == 0)
          {
            $classes      = "rating" . Rating::ShowStars($averageStars);
            
            // Write Output HTML for the Rating Data
            $output  = "\r\n";
            $output .= "<ul class=\"{$classes}\" id=\"{$varItem}\">\r\n";
            $output .= "  <li class=\"one\"><a   href=\"javascript:RateItem('{$varItem}', 1);\" title=\"1 Star\">1</a></li>\r\n";
            $output .= "  <li class=\"two\"><a   href=\"javascript:RateItem('{$varItem}', 2);\" title=\"2 Stars\">2</a></li>\r\n";
            $output .= "  <li class=\"three\"><a href=\"javascript:RateItem('{$varItem}', 3);\" title=\"3 Stars\">3</a></li>\r\n";
            $output .= "  <li class=\"four\"><a  href=\"javascript:RateItem('{$varItem}', 4);\" title=\"4 Stars\">4</a></li>\r\n";
            $output .= "  <li class=\"five\"><a  href=\"javascript:RateItem('{$varItem}', 5);\" title=\"5 Stars\">5</a></li>\r\n";
            
            $output .= "</ul>\r\n";
          }
          else
          {
            $classes      = "rated " . Rating::ShowStars($averageStars);
            
            
            // Write Output HTML for the Rating Data
            $output  = "\r\n";
            $output .= "<ul class=\"{$classes}\" id=\"{$varItem}\">\r\n";
            $output .= "  <li class=\"one\">1</li>\r\n";
            $output .= "  <li class=\"two\">2</li>\r\n";
            $output .= "  <li class=\"three\">3</li>\r\n";
            $output .= "  <li class=\"four\">4</li>\r\n";
            $output .= "  <li class=\"five\">5</li>\r\n";    
            $output .= " <li class=\"total\">[78]</li>";                                
            $output .= "</ul>\r\n";
          }
        }
        else
        {
          $output = "";
          // This is a major issue. NO information can be retrieve if an item name is not passed.
          Error::LogError("Variable Missing", "You must provide the item name for this function to find the average.");
        }
        
        return $output;
      }