'"Fatal error: Cannot redeclare <function>"

I have a function(this is exactly how it appears, from the top of my file):

<?php
//dirname(getcwd());
function generate_salt()
{
    $salt = '';

    for($i = 0; $i < 19; $i++)
    {
        $salt .= chr(rand(35, 126));
    }

    return $salt;
}
...

And for some reason, I keep getting the error:

Fatal error: Cannot redeclare generate_salt() (previously declared in /Applications/MAMP/htdocs/question-air/includes/functions.php:5) in /Applications/MAMP/htdocs/question-air/includes/functions.php on line 13

I cannot figure out why or how such an error could occur. Any ideas?

phpinclude


Solution 1:[1]

This errors says your function is already defined ; which can mean :

  • you have the same function defined in two files
  • or you have the same function defined in two places in the same file
  • or the file in which your function is defined is included two times (so, it seems the function is defined two times)

To help with the third point, a solution would be to use include_once instead of include when including your functions.php file -- so it cannot be included more than once.

Solution 2:[2]

Solution 1

Don't declare function inside a loop (like foreach, for, while...) ! Declare before them.

Solution 2

You should include that file (wherein that function exists) only once. So,
instead of :  include ("functions.php");
use:             include_once("functions.php");

Solution 3

If none of above helps, before function declaration, add a check to avoid re-declaration:

if (!function_exists('your_function_name'))   {
  function your_function_name()  {
    ........
  }
}

Solution 3:[3]

You're probably including the file functions.php more than once.

Solution 4:[4]

You can check first whether the name of your function exists or not before you declare the function:

if (!function_exists('generate_salt'))
{
    function generate_salt()
    {
    ........
    }
}

OR you can change the name of the function to another name.

Solution 5:[5]

In my case it was because of function inside another function! once I moved out the function, error was gone , and everything worked as expected.

This answer explains why you shouldn't use function inside function.

This might help somebody.

Solution 6:[6]

I had strange behavor when my *.php.bak (which automaticly was created by notepad) was included in compilation. After I removed all *.php.bak from folder this error was gone. Maybe this will be helpful for someone.

Solution 7:[7]

Another possible reason for getting that error is that your function has the same name as another PHP built-in function. For example,

function checkdate($date){
   $now=strtotime(date('Y-m-d H:i:s'));
   $tenYearsAgo=strtotime("-10 years", $now);
   $dateToCheck=strtotime($date);
   return ($tenYearsAgo > $dateToCheck) ? false : true;
}
echo checkdate('2016-05-12');

where the checkdate function already exists in PHP.

Solution 8:[8]

I don't like function_exists('fun_name') because it relies on the function name being turned into a string, plus, you have to name it twice. Could easily break with refactoring.

Declare your function as a lambda expression (I haven't seen this solution mentioned):

$generate_salt = function()
{
    ...
};

And use thusly:

$salt = $generate_salt();

Then, at re-execution of said PHP code, the function simply overwrites the previous declaration.

Solution 9:[9]

I would like to add my 2 cent experience that might be helpful for many of you.

If you declare a function inside a loop (for, foreach, while), you will face this error message.

Solution 10:[10]

I'd recommend using get_included_files - as Pascal says you're either looking at the wrong file somehow or this function is already defined in a file that's been included.

require_once is also useful if the file you're attempting to include is essential.

Solution 11:[11]

I had the same problem. And finally it was a double include. One include in a file named X. And another include in a file named Y. Knowing that in file Y I had include ('X')

Solution 12:[12]

Since the code you've provided does not explicitly include anything, either it is being incldued twice, or (if the script is the entry point for the code) there must be a auto-prepend set up in the webserver config / php.ini or alternatively you've got a really obscure extension loaded which defines the function.

Solution 13:[13]

means you have already created a class with same name.

For Example:

class ExampleReDeclare {}

// some code here

class ExampleReDeclare {}

That second ExampleReDeclare throw the error.

Solution 14:[14]

If your having a Wordpress theme problem it could be because although you have renamed the theme in your wp_options table you havn't renamed the stylesheet. I struggled with this.

Solution 15:[15]

I had this pop up recently where a function was being called prior to its definition in the same file, and it didnt have the returned value assigned to a variable. Adding a var for the return value to be assigned to made the error go away.

Solution 16:[16]

You have to deactivate the lite version in order to run the PRO version.

Solution 17:[17]

This errors says your function is already defined ; which can mean :

  • you have the same function defined in two files
  • or you have the same function defined in two places in the same file
  • or the file in which your function is defined is included two times (so, it seems the function is defined two times)

I think your facing problem at 3rd position the script including this file more than one time.So, you can solve it by using require_once instead of require or include_once instead of include for including your functions.php file -- so it cannot be included more than once.

Solution 18:[18]

or you can't create function in loop

  • such as

    for($i=1; $i<5; $i++) { function foo() { echo 'something'; } }

foo();
//It will show error regarding redeclaration

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