syntax error, unexpected identifier “%s”, expecting “(”

Description

After the function keyword and the function’s name, PHP expects the opening parenthesis of the argument list. Here, a second identifier was found instead, which usually means an extra word was typed, or a comma or a return-type colon was forgotten between two declarations.

Example

<?php

function foo bar() {}

?>

Literal Examples

• syntax error, unexpected identifier “bar”, expecting “(”

Solutions

• Remove the extra identifier, keeping only the function name.

• If a return type was intended, add a colon before it: function foo(): bar {}.

• If two functions were meant to be declared, close the first one and start a new function statement.

Related Error Messages

• syntax error, unexpected identifier “%s”, expecting “;” or “{”

Changed Behavior

This error may appear following an evolution in behavior, in previous versions. See ` <https://php-changed-behaviors.readthedocs.io/en/latest/behavior/.html>`_.