Last updated: Fri, 28 Nov 2008

main

main — Dummy for main()

Description

There is no function named main() except in the PHP source. In PHP 4.3.0, a new type of error handling in the PHP source (php_error_docref) was introduced. One feature is to provide links to a manual page in PHP error messages when the PHP directives html_errors (on by default) and docref_root (on by default until PHP 4.3.2) are set.

Sometimes error messages refer to a manual page for the function main() which is why this page exists. Please add a user comment below that mentions what PHP function caused the error that linked to main() and it will be fixed and properly documented.

Known errors that point to **main()**
Function name	No longer points here as of
include()	5.1.0
include_once()	5.1.0
require()	5.1.0
require_once()	5.1.0


In an effort to separate PHP code as much as possible from the HTML code I use the following self-enforced standard:

* all PHP functions are above the <!DOCTYPE> or <HTML>

* the last function in the list in the PHP block is a function called main()

* within the <BODY> element the first thing I do to initialize the page is to make a call to the main function



This results in code looking like this:

<?php

function xxx() { }

function yyy() { }

function main() {

  xxx() // execute call to other function

}

?>

<HTML>

<BODY>

<?php main() ?>

</BODY>

</HTML>



This way I hope my code will be readable for newbies and advanced programmers.

penny at mjollnir dot org
04-Jul-2008 04:29


if like me, you're working inside a framework where you can't require the file with the class definition before session_start is called, I found the following workaround:



$whatever = unserialize(serialize($_SESSION['whatevever']));



dirty hackish, but works.

Anonymous
26-Jun-2008 04:32


In addition to Maurice's comments:



the "The script tried to execute a method or access a property of an incomplete object" message can appear also if you store your objects in session, and rename class during that session.



For example, you have class "class_name", and there is a class variable "$class_var = new class_name". 



If you decide to rename your class, you would have "$class_var = new class_new_name".



This re-naming will result in abovementioned error message if you store $class_var in session.



Solution: clean-up session variable, then error disappears.

deryckchan [ATT] gmail D0T C0M
21-Feb-2008 07:10


To put it simple: main() refers to anything running in the current PHP script file that isn't part of any function.

MagicalTux at kinoko dot fr
27-Nov-2007 10:31


Additional note about what Maurice said: you can also use an __autoload function which will get called as the session/var is unserialized.



This will allow you to not preload all possible classes before loading a session, and let them be loaded dynamically. Check http://php.net/oop5.autoload for more details about this magic function.

Maurice
01-May-2006 11:12


Notice: main() [function.main]: The script tried to execute a method or access a property of an incomplete object. Please ensure that the class definition "<classname>" of the object you are trying to operate on was loaded _before_ unserialize() gets called or provide a __autoload() function to load the class definition in <filename> on line <line>



You get this error if you have and object in your $_SESSION array and you call session_start() before you have loaded your included classes.

add a note

memory_get_peak_usage

ini_set

Last updated: Fri, 28 Nov 2008

main

Description

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