What Does This Mean in PHP -> or => [duplicate]

Answer 1

-> is used to call a method on the object of a class

=> is used to assign values to the keys of an array

E.g.:

$ages = array("Peter"=>32, "Quagmire"=>30, "Joe"=>34, 1=>2); 

And since PHP 7.4+ the operator => is used too for the added arrow functions, a more concise syntax for anonymous functions.

Answer 2

The double arrow operator, =>, is used as an access mechanism for arrays. This means that what is on the left side of it will have a corresponding value of what is on the right side of it in array context. This can be used to set values of any acceptable type into a corresponding index of an array. The index can be associative (string based) or numeric.

$myArray = array(
    0 => 'Big',
    1 => 'Small',
    2 => 'Up',
    3 => 'Down'
);

The object operator, ->, is used in object scope to access methods and properties of an object. It’s meaning is to say that what is on the right of the operator is a member of the object instantiated into the variable on the left side of the operator. Instantiated is the key term here.

// Create a new instance of MyObject into $obj
$obj = new MyObject();
// Set a property in the $obj object called thisProperty
$obj->thisProperty = 'Fred';
// Call a method of the $obj object named getProperty
$obj->getProperty();

Answer 3

->

calls/sets object variables. Ex:

$obj = new StdClass;
$obj->foo = 'bar';
var_dump($obj);

=> Sets key/value pairs for arrays. Ex:

$array = array(
    'foo' => 'bar'
);
var_dump($array);

Answer 4

=> is used in associative array key value assignment. Take a look at:

http://php.net/manual/en/language.types.array.php.

-> is used to access an object method or property. Example: $obj->method().