list Assign variables as if they were an array &reftitle.description; arraylist mixedvar1 mixed... Like array, this is not really a function, but a language construct. list is used to assign a list of variables in one operation. list only works on numerical arrays and assumes the numerical indices start at 0. In PHP 5, list assigns the values starting with the right-most parameter. In PHP 7, list starts with the left-most parameter. If you are using plain variables, you don't have to worry about this. But if you are using arrays with indices you usually expect the order of the indices in the array the same you wrote in the list from left to right, which is not the case in PHP 5, as it's assigned in the reverse order. Generally speaking, it is advisable to avoid relying on a specific order of operation, as this may change again in the future. Modification of the array during list execution (e.g. using list($a, $b) = $b) results in undefined behavior. &reftitle.parameters; var1 A variable. &reftitle.returnvalues; Returns the assigned array. &reftitle.changelog; &Version; &Description; 7.0.0 The order that the assignment operations are performed in has changed. 7.0.0 list expressions can no longer be completely empty. 7.0.0 Strings can no longer be unpacked. &reftitle.examples; <function>list</function> examples ]]> An example use of <function>list</function> Employee name Salary query("SELECT id, name, salary FROM employees"); while (list($id, $name, $salary) = $result->fetch(PDO::FETCH_NUM)) { echo " \n" . " $name\n" . " $salary\n" . " \n"; } ?> ]]> Using nested <function>list</function> ]]> Using <function>list</function> with array indices ]]> Gives the following output (note the order of the elements compared in which order they were written in the list syntax): &example.outputs.7; string(6) "coffee" [1]=> string(5) "brown" [2]=> string(8) "caffeine" } ]]> &example.outputs.5; string(8) "caffeine" [1]=> string(5) "brown" [0]=> string(6) "coffee" } ]]> <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" ]]> &reftitle.seealso; each array extract