Illegal String Offset

Why This Happens

PHP allows accessing individual characters in a string using bracket notation with integer offsets like $str[0]. When you use a non-integer key like $str['name'], PHP raises this warning because strings only support integer offsets. This usually means the variable is a string where you expected an array.

The Problem

function processUser($user) {
    echo $user['name']; // $user is actually a string, not an array
}
processUser('Alice'); // Passing string instead of array

The Fix

function processUser(array $user): void {
    echo $user['name'];
}
processUser(['name' => 'Alice', 'email' => 'alice@example.com']);

Step-by-Step Fix

1. 1

   Check the variable type

   Use var_dump() to inspect the variable. It is likely a string where you expected an associative array.

2. 2

   Add type hints

   Add type hints to function parameters to catch type mismatches early. Use array or a specific class type.

3. 3

   Fix the caller

   Ensure the calling code passes the correct type. If the function expects an array, pass an array, not a scalar value.