Title: Parse error: syntax error – site disappeared
Last modified: August 22, 2016

---

# Parse error: syntax error – site disappeared

 *  Resolved [hellomomusic](https://wordpress.org/support/users/hellomomusic/)
 * (@hellomomusic)
 * [11 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-site-disappeared/)
 * Hi,
 * I am customizing a free theme locally, so I can’t provide the link. I added a
   few footers to the theme and got it just how I wanted when I decided, I needed
   one more. I went into the function.php to start with registering the additional
   footer. I entered the code and updated, then ERROR. The thing is I can’t find
   the error.
 * Error message reads as follows
    _Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T\_CONSTANT\
   _ENCAPSED\_STRING, expecting ‘)’ in /Applications/AMPPS/www/wp/wp-content/themes/
   arcade-basic/functions.php on line 249_
 * The section of the code I believe it is referring to is
 *     ```
       ) );
       register_sidebar( array(

       'name' => 'Footer Sidebar 1',

       'id' => 'footer-sidebar-1',

       'description' => 'Appears in the footer area',

       'before_widget' => '<aside id="%1$s" class="widget %2$s">',

       'after_widget' => '</aside>',

       'before_title' => '<h3 class="widget-title">',

       'after_title' => '</h3>',

       ) );

       register_sidebar( array(

       'name' => 'Footer Sidebar 2',

       'id' => 'footer-sidebar-2',

       'description' => 'Appears in the footer area',

       'before_widget' => '<aside id="%1$s" class="widget %2$s">',

       'after_widget' => '</aside>',

       'before_title' => '<h3 class="widget-title">',

       'after_title' => '</h3>',

       ) );

       register_sidebar( array(

       'name' => 'Footer Sidebar 3',

       'id' => 'footer-sidebar-3',

       'description' => 'Appears in the footer area',

       'before_widget' => '<aside id="%1$s" class="widget %2$s">',

       'after_widget' => '</aside>',

       'before_title' => '<h3 class="widget-title">',

       'after_title' => '</h3>',

       ) );
       register_sidebar( array(

       'name' => 'Footer Sidebar 4',

       'id' => 'footer-sidebar-4',

       'description' => 'Appears in the footer area',

       'before_widget' => '<aside id="%1$s" class="widget %2$s">',

       'after_widget' => '</aside>',

       'before_title' => '<h3 class="widget-title">',

       'after_title' => '</h3>',
       ) );
       }
       ```
   
 * (Yes, even as a newbie, I know I should have used a child theme or edited elsewhere,
   but I didn’t. Got super caught up and didn’t even think about it. )
 * Any help, preferably sooner than later, would be appreciated! Not enough info?
   Please let me know and I will provide more.

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

 *  Moderator [t-p](https://wordpress.org/support/users/t-p/)
 * (@t-p)
 * [11 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-site-disappeared/#post-5189711)
 * – First off, consider creating a [child theme ](http://codex.wordpress.org/Child_Themes)
   to save your customizations in the future.
 * – try uploading a fresh, unedited copy of your active theme’s functions.php file.
   See if that resolves the issue.
 *  Thread Starter [hellomomusic](https://wordpress.org/support/users/hellomomusic/)
 * (@hellomomusic)
 * [11 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-site-disappeared/#post-5189727)
 * I know I should have created a child theme, but as they say, shoulda coulda woulda.
   Learned my lesson, though!
 * I made copies of relevant code changes made to the function, footer and style
   files for reference. I deleted the theme from my local files, then downloaded
   it and moved it to the local theme file. I lost the changes I was trying to save,
   but at least it kept all my other customizations. I’m going to redo these changes
   from scratch, so as not to repeat the same mistake.
 * Thanks!

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

The topic ‘Parse error: syntax error – site disappeared’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [child theme](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/child-theme/)
 * [parse-error](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/parse-error/)
 * [syntax error](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/syntax-error/)
 * [Unexpected](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/unexpected/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 2 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [hellomomusic](https://wordpress.org/support/users/hellomomusic/)
 * Last activity: [11 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-site-disappeared/#post-5189727)
 * Status: resolved

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