list Assign variables as if they were an array &reftitle.description; arraylist mixedvar mixedvars Like array, this is not really a function, but a language construct. list is used to assign a list of variables in one operation. Strings can not be unpacked and list expressions can not be completely empty. Before PHP 7.1.0, list only worked on numerical arrays and assumes the numerical indices start at 0. &reftitle.parameters; var A variable. vars Further variables. &reftitle.returnvalues; Returns the assigned array. &reftitle.changelog; &Version; &Description; 7.3.0 Support for reference assignments in array destructuring was added. 7.1.0 It is now possible to specify keys in list. This enables destructuring of arrays with non-integer or non-sequential keys. &reftitle.examples; <function>list</function> examples ]]> An example use of <function>list</function> query("SELECT id, name FROM employees"); while (list($id, $name) = $result->fetch(PDO::FETCH_NUM)) { echo "id: $id, name: $name\n"; } ?> ]]> Using nested <function>list</function> ]]> <function>list</function> and order of index definitions The order in which the indices of the array to be consumed by list are defined is irrelevant. 'a', 'foo' => 'b', 0 => 'c'); $foo[1] = 'd'; list($x, $y, $z) = $foo; var_dump($foo, $x, $y, $z); ]]> Gives the following output (note the order of the elements compared in which order they were written in the list syntax): string(1) "a" ["foo"]=> string(1) "b" [0]=> string(1) "c" [1]=> string(1) "d" } string(1) "c" string(1) "d" string(1) "a" ]]> <function>list</function> with keys As of PHP 7.1.0 list can now also contain explicit keys, which can be given as arbitrary expressions. Mixing of integer and string keys is allowed; however, elements with and without keys cannot be mixed. 1, "name" => 'Tom'], ["id" => 2, "name" => 'Fred'], ]; foreach ($data as ["id" => $id, "name" => $name]) { echo "id: $id, name: $name\n"; } echo PHP_EOL; list(1 => $second, 3 => $fourth) = [1, 2, 3, 4]; echo "$second, $fourth\n"; ]]> &example.outputs; &reftitle.seealso; each array extract