eval() evaluates the string given in
code_str
as PHP code. Among other things,
this can be useful for storing code in a database text field for
later execution. code_str
does not have to
contain PHP Opening
tags.
There are some factors to keep in mind when using
eval(). Remember that the string passed must
be valid PHP code, including things like terminating statements
with a semicolon so the parser doesn't die on the line after the
eval(), and properly escaping things in
code_str
. To mix HTML output and PHP code
you can use a closing PHP tag to leave PHP mode.
Also remember that variables given values under eval() will retain these values in the main script afterwards.
A return statement will terminate the evaluation of the string immediately. As of PHP 4, eval() returns NULL unless return is called in the evaluated code, in which case the value passed to return is returned. In case of a parse error in the evaluated code, eval() returns FALSE. In case of a fatal error in the evaluated code, the whole script exits. In PHP 3, eval() does not return a value.
Tip: As with anything that outputs its result directly to the browser, you can use the output-control functions to capture the output of this function, and save it in a string (for example).
See also call_user_func().