How to set a default value for a PHP function parameter?
Jul 05, 2025 am 02:45 AMTo set a default value for a PHP function parameter, assign the value directly in the function definition using an equals sign (=), and ensure defaults are only used for trailing parameters. 1. Assign default values inline: function greet($name = "Guest"). 2. Use null as a placeholder when the default needs runtime logic: function logMessage($message, $level = null). 3. Avoid mutable defaults like arrays or objects in parameters; initialize them inside the function body instead to prevent unexpected behavior across calls.
Sure, here's how you can set a default value for a PHP function parameter — it’s pretty straightforward and commonly used when building flexible functions.

Just assign the value in the function definition
When defining a function, simply add an equals sign (=
) after the parameter name followed by the default value. This way, if the caller doesn't provide that argument, the default will be used instead.

For example:
function greet($name = "Guest") { echo "Hello, $name!"; }
Calling greet()
without any arguments will output:Hello, Guest!

And calling greet("John")
would output:Hello, John!
A few things to note:
- Only parameters at the end of the list can have defaults (unless you're using PHP 8 named arguments).
- You can use expressions too — not just static values.
- Be careful with mutable defaults like arrays — more on that below.
Use null
as a placeholder if needed
Sometimes you might want to accept a parameter but allow it to be optional without assuming a specific default right away. In this case, you can set the default to null
and then handle it inside the function.
Example:
function logMessage($message, $level = null) { if ($level === null) { $level = 'info'; } echo "[$level] $message\n"; }
This is helpful when the default depends on runtime conditions or needs logic before being assigned.
Also useful for optional callbacks or resources that aren’t easy to express inline.
Watch out for default arrays and objects
A common mistake is trying to set a default array or object directly in the parameter list, like:
// Don't do this function setData($options = []) { // ... }
In older versions of PHP, this might behave unexpectedly because the same array instance could be reused between calls. It’s safer to default complex types to null
and initialize them inside the function body.
Better approach:
function setData($options = null) { if ($options === null) { $options = []; } // Now safe to modify $options }
Same goes for objects — don’t try to instantiate them directly in the parameter list unless you're sure about how your PHP version handles it.
Summary (not really)
That’s basically how default parameters work in PHP. It’s simple but powerful once you know the caveats — especially around mutable defaults and order of parameters. Doesn't look complicated, but it's easy to trip up if you're not paying attention.
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