PHP syntax for dereferencing function result

Question

Background

In every other programming language I use on a regular basis, it is simple to operate on the return value of a function without declaring

Answer 1

Previously in PHP 5.3 you had to do this:

function returnArray() {
  return array(1, 2, 3);
}
$tmp = returnArray();
$ssecondElement = $tmp[1];

Result: 2

As of PHP 5.4 it is possible to dereference an array as follows:

function returnArray() {
  return array(1, 2, 3);
}
$secondElement = returnArray()[1];

Result: 2

As of PHP 5.5:

You can even get clever:

echo [1, 2, 3][1];

Result: 2

You can also do the same with strings. It's called string dereferencing:

echo 'PHP'[1];

Result: H