➤ Normally, when a function is completed/executed, all of its variables are deleted. However, sometimes we want a local variable NOT to be deleted. We need it for a further job. • To do this, use the

static

keyword when you first declare the variable: For instance:

// function with static variable
function get_num1() {
  static $number1 = 0;
  echo $number1++." ";
}
get_num1();
get_num1();
get_num1(); echo "\n";
// outputs:   0 1 2


// function without static variable
function get_num2() {
	$number2 = 0;
	echo $number2++." ";
}
get_num2();
get_num2();
get_num2();
// outputs:   0 0 0