echo value is different when that variable is passed in php

Question

I was working in php java bridge and came across this problem. The below is the code

 $payID     =  $epaymentpipe->getPaymentId();

 echo $payID;

the expected value is printed e.g., 5323423123

but when i pass the same variable in header like below, the object id is passing in payID.

header("location: URL?PaymentID=".$payID);

it is passing like http://URL?PaymentID=Object id #53

I Need to know whats happening here. When the variable is echoed its printing correctly but when i use the variable the object id is passing.

Answer 1

header("location: URL?PaymentID=".$payID);

Use

header("location: URL?PaymentID=".((string)$payID));

and report this bug to the PHP developers.

The . operator should convert its arguments to a string using $object->__toString().

Note that this has been fixed in PHP 5.3 and above!

Answer 2

Cast the object as a string:

$payID = (string)$epaymentpipe->getPaymentId();
header("location: URL?PaymentID=".$payID);

Answer 3

The definition of echo is different as of that of print_r and var_dump, whenever any such thing happens check the value by dumping it through print_r or var_dump.