php 5 create global variable within function -

i'm trying create global variable within function isn't passed when try echo outside function.

function check_input($data) {         if ( preg_match("/http/i", $data)) {$globals['spam'] = 'yes';  }  check_input($data); echo $spam; echo $globals['spam']; 

the correct course of action return value out of function, instead of relying on global variables.

function check_input($data) {     //note use of true instead of "yes".      //you can more stuff true/false.     if ( preg_match("/http/i", $data)) { return true; }     else { return false; } }  $is_spam = check_input($data); echo $is_spam; //1 or 0, because that's how true , false display in echo. 

also see: why global state evil?