PHP Syntax Query (What is this ?)

[JeC]

I'm making head way into modifying PHPBB boards, and apart from the shock of the professional looking code, theres some syntax I haven't noticed before.

$template->assign_block_vars('catrow.forumrow',	array(ect... ect...) );

My questino is what does the '->' thing do? I haven't seen it before. Is it just simply an assignment operator? putting the value of the function into $template ?

-jec-

[redhead]

the '->' is accessing a member function/variable within the template class.
When you program in OOP, you create functions for the classes, in order to reach them you need to dereference by using '->' or '.' depending if the class is call by reference or called directly.

[JeC]

thanks red, that's shed some light on the situation. I'll get the jist of OOP soon I hope