javascript - question about functions in php -

i have php file 2 function

<?php   function first () { //in real case more conditions echo "first"; return true; }  function second () { //in real case more conditions echo "second"; return true; }  first(); second();  ?> 

and in ajax file

function(data) {                 if (data == "first") {                     $("#msgbox1").fadeto(200, 0.1, function() {                         $(this).html('something');                     });                 }                  else if (data == "second") {                     $("#msgbox1").fadeto(200, 0.1, function() {                         $(this).html('something else');                     });                 }  

the problem because php devolve firstsecond , need check in individual mode - first , second. if make return first; how can check in data if return correct? data==first not working

thanks

you'd want more along these lines:

function first() {     if (some condition ...) {        return true;     }     return false; }  function second() {    if (some other condition...) {       return true;     }     return false; }  $data = array();  $data['first'] = first(); $data['second']= second();  echo json_encode($data); 

then in javascript code:

if (data.first) {    ... first occurred } if (data.second) {    ... second occured; } 

must better return actual javascript data structures via json encoding, string. way can pass in other data elements. instance, if first() doing database lookup , blew up, can return 'false' along error message indicating why request failed.