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PHP Build a Basic PHP Website (2018) Listing and Sorting Inventory Items Creating the Display Function

Was the function for this video needed?

For this video, was the function even needed? what I am trying to ask is, could this have been done without writing the function? Because wasn't the $id and $item pulled from the data.php file to fill out the catalog list on the catalog.php and index.php file?

Andrew Patella
Andrew Patella
2,270 Points

That's a good question, the page was working fine without it so I would say no, but i think the reason for the function would be for adding it to new pages in the future as well as changing the way function works from one location if needed.

I think she had us build it out the hard way then add in the function later to show us what it was doing and how all the pieces fit together. I think if we were pro devs we would have started with the function.

what are your thoughts?

Steven Snary
Steven Snary
17,540 Points

Since the code for the function will be run in more than one spot (The catalog.php and index.php pages) and we'd like to keep out code DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) then it is a good programming practice to but the code in a function and call it as needed.

It also keeps the "main" code a little cleaner - but the DRY reason is the best one.