<p>In the PHP manual, to show the syntax for functions with optional parameters, they use brackets around each set of dependent optional parameter. For example, for the <a href="http://php.net/date" rel="noreferrer"><code>date()</code></a> function, the manual reads:</p>

<pre><code>string date ( string $format [, int $timestamp = time() ] )
</code></pre>

<p>Where <code>$timestamp</code> is an optional parameter, and when left blank it defaults to the <a href="http://php.net/time" rel="noreferrer"><code>time()</code></a> function's return value.</p>

<p>How do you go about creating optional parameters like this when defining a custom function in PHP?</p>

Much like the manual, use an equals (
```
=
```
) sign in your definition of the parameters:
```
```
function dosomething($var1, $var2, $var3 = 'somevalue'){
    // Rest of function here...
}
```
```