php - Codeigniter - return an anchor() from function -

probably newb question here, how return ci anchor() call within function. want "hide" button if variable set value. ci's url helper documentation: https://ellislab.com/codeigniter/user-guide/general/helpers.html

a pseudo example won't work (can't return url helper anchor('',''):

$prevavailcompid = 0;  function hidebutton($prevcompid) {     if($prevcompid == 0)     {         return anchor('/getcomps/getspecificcomp/'.$prevcompid , 'prev comp');         //i've tried return echo anchor(...)     }  } 

further down on page:

<div id="prevbtncontainer"><? hidebutton($prevavailcompid); ?></div> 

you don't need return anchor() function. can use

updated code

public function test(){      ?>     <h1>test h1</h1>     <div id="prevbtncontainer"><?php $this->hidebutton(0); ?></div>     <div id="1prevbtncontainer"><?php $this->hidebutton(1); ?></div>     <?php  }  private  function hidebutton($prevcompid) {     if($prevcompid == 0)     {         echo anchor('/getcomps/getspecificcomp/'.$prevcompid , 'prev comp');     } } 

i've tested in codeigniter , working.