Überladung

Überladung bietet in PHP Möglichkeiten, um dynamisch Eigenschaften und Methoden zu erzeugen. Diese dynamisch erzeugten Entitäten werden unter Zuhilfenahme von magischen Methoden verarbeitet, die man in einer Klasse zu verschiedenen Aktivitäten definieren kann.

Die Überladungsmethoden werden aufgerufen, wenn mit Eigenschaften oder Methoden interagiert wird, die entweder nicht deklariert wurden oder im aktuellen Geltungsbereich nicht sichtbar sind. Im Rest dieses Abschnitts werden die Begriffe unzugreifbare Eigenschaft und unzugreifbare Methode verwendet, um auf die Kombination von Deklaration und Sichtbarkeit zu verweisen.

Alle Überladungsmethoden müssen als public definiert sein.

Hinweis:

Keiner der Parameter dieser magischen Methoden kann als Referenz übergeben werden.

Hinweis:

Die Interpretation von Überladung weicht von den meisten objektorientierten Programmiersprachen ab. Traditionell bezeichnet Überladung die Möglichkeit mehrere Methoden mit gleichem Namen aber unterschiedlichen Anzahlen und Typen von Parametern zu definieren.

Überladung von Eigenschaften

public __set(string $name, mixed $value): void
public __get(string $name): mixed
public __isset(string $name): bool
public __unset(string $name): void

__set wird aufgerufen, wenn Daten in unzugreifbare (protected oder private) Eigenschaften geschrieben werden sollen.

__get wird verwendet, um Daten aus unzugreifbaren (protected oder private) Eigenschaften zu lesen.

__isset wird aufgerufen, indem isset() oder empty() auf unzugreifbare (protected oder private) Eigenschaften angewendet wird.

__unset wird aufgerufen, wenn unset() für unzugreifbaren (protected oder private) Eigenschaften aufgerufen wird.

Der Parameter $name beinhaltet den Namen der Eigenschaft, mit der interagiert wird. Der Parameter $value der Funktion __set spezifiziert den Wert den die Eigenschaft $name annehmen soll.

Überladung von Eigenschaften funktioniert nur im Kontext von Objekten. Diese magischen Methoden werden nicht aus einem statischen Kontext aufgerufen. Diese Methoden sollten daher nicht als static deklariert werden. Eine Warnung wird ausgegeben, wenn eine dieser magischen Überladungsmethoden als static deklariert ist.

Hinweis:

Der Rückgabewert von __set wird, aufgrund der Behandlung des Zuweisungsoperators in PHP, ignoriert. Aus ähnlichen Gründen wird __get nicht aufgerufen, wenn man Zuweisungen in etwa wie folgt verkettet:

 $a = $obj->b = 8; 

Hinweis:

PHP ruft niemals eine überladene Methode von derselben überladenen Methode aus auf. Das bedeutet zum Beispiel, dass return $this->foo innerhalb von __get() null zurückgibt und ein E_WARNING auslöst, wenn die Eigenschaft foo nicht definiert ist, anstatt __get() ein zweites Mal aufzurufen. Es ist jedoch möglich, dass eine überladene Methode implizit eine andere überladene Methode aufruft (z.B. löst __set() den Aufruf von __get() aus).

Beispiel #1 Überladung von Eigenschaften mit den Methoden __get, __set, __isset und __unset

<?php
class EigenschaftTest
{
/** Speicherplatz für überladene Daten. */
private $data = array();

/** Überladung wird nicht bei deklarierten Eigenschaften benutzt. */
public $declared = 1;

/** Überladung wird nur von außerhalb der Klasse angewendet. */
private $hidden = 2;

public function
__set($name, $value)
{
echo
"Setze '$name' auf '$value'\n";
$this->data[$name] = $value;
}

public function
__get($name)
{
echo
"Lese '$name'\n";
if (
array_key_exists($name, $this->data)) {
return
$this->data[$name];
}

$trace = debug_backtrace();
trigger_error(
'Undefinierte Eigenschaft für __get(): ' . $name .
' in ' . $trace[0]['file'] .
' Zeile ' . $trace[0]['line'],
E_USER_NOTICE);
return
null;
}

public function
__isset($name)
{
echo
"Ist '$name' gesetzt?\n";
return isset(
$this->data[$name]);
}

public function
__unset($name)
{
echo
"Lösche '$name'\n";
unset(
$this->data[$name]);
}

/** Keine magische Methode, nur beispielhaft hier. */
public function getHidden()
{
return
$this->hidden;
}
}


echo
"<pre>\n";

$obj = new EigenschaftTest;

$obj->a = 1;
echo
$obj->a . "\n\n";

var_dump(isset($obj->a));
unset(
$obj->a);
var_dump(isset($obj->a));
echo
"\n";

echo
$obj->declared . "\n\n";

echo
"Wir experimentieren nun mit der private-Eigenschaft 'hidden':\n";
echo
"Private ist innerhalb der Klasse sichtbar, also wird __get() nicht benutzt...\n";
echo
$obj->getHidden() . "\n";
echo
"Private nicht sichtbar von außerhalb der Klasse, also wird __get() benutzt...\n";
echo
$obj->hidden . "\n";
?>

Das oben gezeigte Beispiel erzeugt folgende Ausgabe:

Setze 'a' auf '1'
Lese 'a'
1

Ist 'a' gesetzt?
bool(true)
Lösche 'a'
Ist 'a' gesetzt?
bool(false)

1

Wir experimentieren nun mit der private-Eigenschaft 'hidden':
Private ist innerhalb der Klasse sichtbar, also wird __get() nicht benutzt...
2
Private nicht sichtbar von außerhalb der Klasse, also wird __get() benutzt...
Lese 'hidden'


Notice:  Undefinierte Eigenschaft für __get(): hidden in <file> Zeile 70 in <file> on line 29

Überladung von Methoden

public __call(string $name, array $arguments): mixed
public static __callStatic(string $name, array $arguments): mixed

__call wird aufgerufen, wenn eine unzugreifbare Methode in einem Objekt aufgerufen wird.

__callStatic wird aufgerufen, wenn eine unzugreifbare Methode in einem statischen Kontext aufgerufen wird.

Der Parameter $name ist der Name der aufgerufenen Methode. Der Parameter $arguments beinhaltet ein Array mit den Parametern, die der Methode $name übergeben wurden.

Beispiel #2 Überladung von Methoden mit den methoden __call und __callStatic

<?php
class MethodenTest {
public function
__call($name, $arguments)
{
// Achtung: Der Wert von $name beachtet die Groß-/Kleinschreibung
echo "Rufe die Objektmethode '$name' "
. implode(', ', $arguments). "\n";
}

public static function
__callStatic($name, $arguments)
{
// Achtung: Der Wert von $name beachtet die Groß-/Kleinschreibung
echo "Rufe die statische Methode '$name' "
. implode(', ', $arguments). "\n";
}
}

$obj = new MethodenTest;
$obj->runTest('eines Objektes auf');

MethodTest::runTest('aus statischem Kontext auf');
?>

Das oben gezeigte Beispiel erzeugt folgende Ausgabe:

Rufe die Objektmethode 'runTest' eines Objektes auf
Rufe die statische Methode 'runTest' aus statischem Kontext auf
add a note add a note

User Contributed Notes 38 notes

up
1608
php_is_painful at world dot real
16 years ago
This is a misuse of the term overloading. This article should call this technique "interpreter hooks".
up
286
theaceofthespade at gmail dot com
11 years ago
A word of warning!  It may seem obvious, but remember, when deciding whether to use __get, __set, and __call as a way to access the data in your class (as opposed to hard-coding getters and setters), keep in mind that this will prevent any sort of autocomplete, highlighting, or documentation that your ide mite do.

Furthermore, it beyond personal preference when working with other people.  Even without an ide, it can be much easier to go through and look at hardcoded member and method definitions in code, than having to sift through code and piece together the method/member names that are assembled in __get and __set.

If you still decide to use __get and __set for everything in your class, be sure to include detailed comments and documenting, so that the people you are working with (or the people who inherit the code from you at a later date) don't have to waste time interpreting your code just to be able to use it.
up
190
Anonymous
7 years ago
First off all, if you read this, please upvote the first comment on this list that states that “overloading” is a bad term for this behaviour. Because it REALLY is a bad name. You’re giving new definition to an already accepted IT-branch terminology.

Second, I concur with all criticism you will read about this functionality. Just as naming it “overloading”, the functionality is also very bad practice. Please don’t use this in a production environment. To be honest, avoid to use it at all. Especially if you are a beginner at PHP. It can make your code react very unexpectedly. In which case you MIGHT be learning invalid coding!

And last, because of __get, __set and __call the following code executes. Which is abnormal behaviour. And can cause a lot of problems/bugs.

<?php

class BadPractice {
 
// Two real properties
 
public $DontAllowVariableNameWithTypos = true;
  protected
$Number = 0;
 
// One private method
 
private function veryPrivateMethod() { }
 
// And three very magic methods that will make everything look inconsistent
  // with all you have ever learned about PHP.
 
public function __get($n) {}
  public function
__set($n, $v) {}
  public function
__call($n, $v) {}
}

// Let's see our BadPractice in a production environment!
$UnexpectedBehaviour = new BadPractice;

// No syntax highlighting on most IDE's
$UnexpectedBehaviour->SynTaxHighlighting = false;

// No autocompletion on most IDE's
$UnexpectedBehaviour->AutoCompletion = false;

// Which will lead to problems waiting to happen
$UnexpectedBehaviour->DontAllowVariableNameWithTyphos = false; // see if below

// Get, Set and Call anything you want!
$UnexpectedBehaviour->EveryPosibleMethodCallAllowed(true, 'Why Not?');

// And sure, why not use the most illegal property names you can think off
$UnexpectedBehaviour->{'100%Illegal+Names'} = 'allowed';

// This Very confusing syntax seems to allow access to $Number but because of
// the lowered visibility it goes to __set()
$UnexpectedBehaviour->Number = 10;

// We can SEEM to increment it too! (that's really dynamic! :-) NULL++ LMAO
$UnexpectedBehaviour->Number++;

// this ofcourse outputs NULL (through __get) and not the PERHAPS expected 11
var_dump($UnexpectedBehaviour->Number);

// and sure, private method calls LOOK valid now!
// (this goes to __call, so no fatal error)
$UnexpectedBehaviour->veryPrivateMethod();

// Because the previous was __set to false, next expression is true
// if we didn't had __set, the previous assignment would have failed
// then you would have corrected the typho and this code will not have
// been executed. (This can really be a BIG PAIN)
if ($UnexpectedBehaviour->DontAllowVariableNameWithTypos) {
 
// if this code block would have deleted a file, or do a deletion on
  // a database, you could really be VERY SAD for a long time!
 
$UnexpectedBehaviour->executeStuffYouDontWantHere(true);
}
?>
up
64
pogregoire##live.fr
7 years ago
It is important to understand that encapsulation can be very easily violated in PHP. for example :
class Object{

}

$Object = new Object();
$Objet->barbarianProperties  = 'boom';

var_dump($Objet);// object(Objet)#1 (1) { ["barbarianProperties"]=> string(7) "boom" }

Hence it is possible to add a propertie out form the class definition.
It is then a necessity in order to protect encapsulation to introduce __set() in the class :

class Objet{
    public function __set($name,$value){
        throw new Exception ('no');
    }
}
up
52
Anonymous
8 years ago
Using magic methods, especially __get(), __set(), and __call() will effectively disable autocomplete in most IDEs (eg.: IntelliSense) for the affected classes.

To overcome this inconvenience, use phpDoc to let the IDE know about these magic methods and properties: @method, @property, @property-read, @property-write.

/**
* @property-read name
* @property-read price
*/
class MyClass
{
    private $properties = array('name' => 'IceFruit', 'price' => 2.49)
   
    public function __get($name)
    {
        return $this->properties($name);
    }
}
up
107
egingell at sisna dot com
16 years ago
Small vocabulary note: This is *not* "overloading", this is "overriding".

Overloading: Declaring a function multiple times with a different set of parameters like this:
<?php

function foo($a) {
    return
$a;
}

function
foo($a, $b) {
    return
$a + $b;
}

echo
foo(5); // Prints "5"
echo foo(5, 2); // Prints "7"

?>

Overriding: Replacing the parent class's method(s) with a new method by redeclaring it like this:
<?php

class foo {
    function new(
$args) {
       
// Do something.
   
}
}

class
bar extends foo {
    function new(
$args) {
       
// Do something different.
   
}
}

?>
up
16
Ant P.
15 years ago
Be extra careful when using __call():  if you typo a function call somewhere it won't trigger an undefined function error, but get passed to __call() instead, possibly causing all sorts of bizarre side effects.
In versions before 5.3 without __callStatic, static calls to nonexistent functions also fall through to __call!
This caused me hours of confusion, hopefully this comment will save someone else from the same.
up
8
gabe at fijiwebdesign dot com
9 years ago
Note that you can enable "overloading" on a class instance at runtime for an existing property by unset()ing that property.

eg:

<?php
class Test {

    public
$property1;

    public function
__get($name)
    {
        return
"Get called for " . get_class($this) . "->\$$name \n";
    }

}
?>

The public property $property1 can be unset() so that it can be dynamically handled via __get().

<?php
$Test
= new Test();
unset(
$Test->property1); // enable overloading
echo $Test->property1; // Get called for Test->$property1
?>

Useful if you want to proxy or lazy load properties yet want to have documentation and visibility in the code and debugging compared to __get(), __isset(), __set() on non-existent inaccessible properties.
up
3
cottton at i-stats dot net
9 years ago
Actually you dont need __set ect imo. 
You could use it to set (pre-defined) protected (and in "some" cases private) properties . But who wants that?
(test it by uncommenting private or protected)
(pastebin because long ...) => http://pastebin.com/By4gHrt5
up
9
NOTE: getter cannot call getter
18 years ago
By Design (http://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=33998) you cannot call a getter from a getter or any function triggered by a getter:

<?php
class test
{
    protected
$_a = 6;

    function
__get($key) {
        if(
$key == 'stuff') {
            return
$this->stuff();
        } else if(
$key == 'a') {
            return
$this->_a;
        }
    }

    function
stuff()
    {
        return array(
'random' => 'key', 'using_getter' => 10 * $this->a);
    }
}

$test = new test();
print
'this should be 60: '.$test->stuff['using_getter'].'<br/>';       // prints "this should be 60: 0"
// [[ Undefined property:  test::$a ]] on /var/www/html/test.php logged.
print 'this should be 6: '.$test->a.'<br/>';                            // prints "this should be 6: 6"
?>
up
23
navarr at gtaero dot net
13 years ago
If you want to make it work more naturally for arrays $obj->variable[] etc you'll need to return __get by reference.

<?php
class Variables
{
        public function
__construct()
        {
                if(
session_id() === "")
                {
                       
session_start();
                }
        }
        public function
__set($name,$value)
        {
               
$_SESSION["Variables"][$name] = $value;
        }
        public function &
__get($name)
        {
                return
$_SESSION["Variables"][$name];
        }
        public function
__isset($name)
        {
                return isset(
$_SESSION["Variables"][$name]);
        }
}
?>
up
9
PHP at jyopp dotKomm
18 years ago
Here's a useful class for logging function calls.  It stores a sequence of calls and arguments which can then be applied to objects later.  This can be used to script common sequences of operations, or to make "pluggable" operation sequences in header files that can be replayed on objects later.

If it is instantiated with an object to shadow, it behaves as a mediator and executes the calls on this object as they come in, passing back the values from the execution.

This is a very general implementation; it should be changed if error codes or exceptions need to be handled during the Replay process.
<?php
class MethodCallLog {
    private
$callLog = array();
    private
$object;
   
    public function
__construct($object = null) {
       
$this->object = $object;
    }
    public function
__call($m, $a) {
       
$this->callLog[] = array($m, $a);
        if (
$this->object) return call_user_func_array(array(&$this->object,$m),$a);
        return
true;
    }
    public function
Replay(&$object) {
        foreach (
$this->callLog as $c) {
           
call_user_func_array(array(&$object,$c[0]), $c[1]);
        }
    }
    public function
GetEntries() {
       
$rVal = array();
        foreach (
$this->callLog as $c) {
           
$rVal[] = "$c[0](".implode(', ', $c[1]).");";
        }
        return
$rVal;
    }
    public function
Clear() {
       
$this->callLog = array();
    }
}

$log = new MethodCallLog();
$log->Method1();
$log->Method2("Value");
$log->Method1($a, $b, $c);
// Execute these method calls on a set of objects...
foreach ($array as $o) $log->Replay($o);
?>
up
10
php at lanar dot com dot au
13 years ago
Note that __isset is not called on chained checks.
If isset( $x->a->b ) is executed where $x is a class with __isset() declared, __isset() is not called.

<?php

class demo
{
    var
$id ;
    function
__construct( $id = 'who knows' )
    {
       
$this->id = $id ;
    }
    function
__get( $prop )
    {
        echo
"\n", __FILE__, ':', __LINE__, ' ', __METHOD__, '(', $prop, ') instance ', $this->id ;
        return new
demo( 'autocreated' ) ; // return a class anyway for the demo
   
}
    function
__isset( $prop )
    {
        echo
"\n", __FILE__, ':', __LINE__, ' ', __METHOD__, '(', $prop, ') instance ', $this->id ;
        return
FALSE ;
    }
}
$x = new demo( 'demo' ) ;
echo
"\n", 'Calls __isset() on demo as expected when executing isset( $x->a )' ;
$ret = isset( $x->a ) ;
echo
"\n", 'Calls __get() on demo without call to __isset()  when executing isset( $x->a->b )' ;
$ret = isset( $x->a->b ) ;
?>

Outputs

Calls __isset() on demo as expected when executing isset( $x->a )
C:\htdocs\test.php:31 demo::__isset(a) instance demo
Calls __get() on demo without call to __isset()  when executing isset( $x->a->b )
C:\htdocs\test.php:26 demo::__get(a) instance demo
C:\htdocs\test.php:31 demo::__isset(b) instance autocreated
up
17
jan dot machala at email dot cz
12 years ago
Example of usage __call() to have implicit getters and setters

<?php
class Entity {
    public function
__call($methodName, $args) {
        if (
preg_match('~^(set|get)([A-Z])(.*)$~', $methodName, $matches)) {
           
$property = strtolower($matches[2]) . $matches[3];
            if (!
property_exists($this, $property)) {
                throw new
MemberAccessException('Property ' . $property . ' not exists');
            }
            switch(
$matches[1]) {
                case
'set':
                   
$this->checkArguments($args, 1, 1, $methodName);
                    return
$this->set($property, $args[0]);
                case
'get':
                   
$this->checkArguments($args, 0, 0, $methodName);
                    return
$this->get($property);
                case
'default':
                    throw new
MemberAccessException('Method ' . $methodName . ' not exists');
            }
        }
    }

    public function
get($property) {
        return
$this->$property;
    }

    public function
set($property, $value) {
       
$this->$property = $value;
        return
$this;
    }

    protected function
checkArguments(array $args, $min, $max, $methodName) {
       
$argc = count($args);
        if (
$argc < $min || $argc > $max) {
            throw new
MemberAccessException('Method ' . $methodName . ' needs minimaly ' . $min . ' and maximaly ' . $max . ' arguments. ' . $argc . ' arguments given.');
        }
    }
}

class
MemberAccessException extends Exception{}

class
Foo extends Entity {
    protected
$a;
}

$foo = new Foo();
$foo->setA('some'); // outputs some
echo $foo->getA();

class
Bar extends Entity {
    protected
$a;
   
/**
     * Custom setter.
     */
   
public function setA($a) {
        if (!
preg_match('~^[0-9a-z]+$~i', $a)) {
            throw new
MemberAccessException('A can be only alphanumerical');
        }
       
$this->a = $a;
        return
$this;
    }
}

$bar = new Bar();
$bar->setA('abc123'); // ok
$bar->setA('[]/*@...'); // throws exception
?>
up
2
justmyoponion at gmail dot com
4 years ago
If you are not focused enough, then don't use it.
Otherwise it is very powerful and you can build very complex code that handle a lot of things like zend framework did.
up
5
jstubbs at work-at dot co dot jp
17 years ago
<?php $myclass->foo['bar'] = 'baz'; ?>

When overriding __get and __set, the above code can work (as expected) but it depends on your __get implementation rather than your __set. In fact, __set is never called with the above code. It appears that PHP (at least as of 5.1) uses a reference to whatever was returned by __get. To be more verbose, the above code is essentially identical to:

<?php
$tmp_array
= &$myclass->foo;
$tmp_array['bar'] = 'baz';
unset(
$tmp_array);
?>

Therefore, the above won't do anything if your __get implementation resembles this:

<?php
function __get($name) {
    return
array_key_exists($name, $this->values)
        ?
$this->values[$name] : null;
}
?>

You will actually need to set the value in __get and return that, as in the following code:

<?php
function __get($name) {
    if (!
array_key_exists($name, $this->values))
       
$this->values[$name] = null;
    return
$this->values[$name];
}
?>
up
6
Adeel Khan
16 years ago
Observe:

<?php
class Foo {
    function
__call($m, $a) {
        die(
$m);
    }
}

$foo = new Foo;
print
$foo->{'wow!'}();

// outputs 'wow!'
?>

This method allows you to call functions with invalid characters.
up
3
php at sleep is the enemy dot co dot uk
16 years ago
Just to reinforce and elaborate on what DevilDude at darkmaker dot com said way down there on 22-Sep-2004 07:57.

The recursion detection feature can prove especially perilous when using __set. When PHP comes across a statement that would usually call __set but would lead to recursion, rather than firing off a warning or simply not executing the statement it will act as though there is no __set method defined at all. The default behaviour in this instance is to dynamically add the specified property to the object thus breaking the desired functionality of all further calls to __set or __get for that property.

Example:

<?php

class TestClass{

    public
$values = array();
   
    public function
__get($name){
        return
$this->values[$name];
    }
   
    public function
__set($name, $value){
       
$this->values[$name] = $value;
       
$this->validate($name);
    }

    public function
validate($name){
       
/*
        __get will be called on the following line
        but as soon as we attempt to call __set
        again PHP will refuse and simply add a
        property called $name to $this
        */
       
$this->$name = trim($this->$name);
    }
}

$tc = new TestClass();

$tc->foo = 'bar';
$tc->values['foo'] = 'boing';

echo
'$tc->foo == ' . $tc->foo . '<br>';
echo
'$tc ' . (property_exists($tc, 'foo') ? 'now has' : 'still does not have') . ' a property called "foo"<br>';

/*
OUPUTS:
$tc->foo == bar
$tc now has a property called "foo"
*/

?>
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9
alexandre at nospam dot gaigalas dot net
16 years ago
PHP 5.2.1

Its possible to call magic methods with invalid names using variable method/property names:

<?php

class foo
{
    function
__get($n)
    {
       
print_r($n);
    }
    function
__call($m, $a)
    {
       
print_r($m);
    }
}

$test = new foo;
$varname = 'invalid,variable+name';
$test->$varname;
$test->$varname();

?>

I just don't know if it is a bug or a feature :)
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5
derek-php at seysol dot com
18 years ago
Please note that PHP5 currently doesn't support __call return-by-reference (see PHP Bug #30959).

Example Code:

<?php

   
class test {
        public function &
__call($method, $params) {

           
// Return a reference to var2
           
return $GLOBALS['var2'];
        }
        public function &
actual() {

           
// Return a reference to var1
           
return $GLOBALS['var1'];
        }
    }

   
$obj = new test;
   
$GLOBALS['var1'] = 0;
   
$GLOBALS['var2'] = 0;

   
$ref1 =& $obj->actual();
   
$GLOBALS['var1']++;

    echo
"Actual function returns: $ref1 which should be equal to " . $GLOBALS['var1'] . "<br/>\n";

   
$ref2 =& $obj->overloaded();
   
$GLOBALS['var2']++;

    echo
"Overloaded function returns: $ref2 which should be equal to " . $GLOBALS['var2'] . "<br/>\n";

?>
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2
matthijs at yourmediafactory dot com
16 years ago
While PHP does not support true overloading natively, I have to disagree with those that state this can't be achieved trough __call.

Yes, it's not pretty but it is definately possible to overload a member based on the type of its argument. An example:
<?php
class A {
  
  public function
__call ($member, $arguments) {
    if(
is_object($arguments[0]))
     
$member = $member . 'Object';
    if(
is_array($arguments[0]))
     
$member = $member . 'Array';
   
$this -> $member($arguments);
  }
  
  private function
testArray () {
    echo
"Array.";
  }
  
  private function
testObject () {
    echo
"Object.";
  }
}

class
B {
}

$class = new A;
$class -> test(array()); // echo's 'Array.'
$class -> test(new B); // echo's 'Object.'
?>

Of course, the use of this is questionable (I have never needed it myself, but then again, I only have a very minimalistic C++ & JAVA background). However, using this general principle and optionally building forth on other suggestions a 'form' of overloading is definately possible, provided you have some strict naming conventions in your functions.

It would of course become a LOT easier once PHP'd let you declare the same member several times but with different arguments, since if you combine that with the reflection class 'real' overloading comes into the grasp of a good OO programmer. Lets keep our fingers crossed!
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5
Daniel Smith
12 years ago
Be careful of __call in case you have a protected/private method. Doing this:

<?php
class TestMagicCallMethod {
    public function
foo()
    {
        echo
__METHOD__.PHP_EOL;
    }

    public function
__call($method, $args)
    {
        echo
__METHOD__.PHP_EOL;
        if(
method_exists($this, $method))
        {
           
$this->$method();
        }
    }
   
    protected function
bar()
    {
        echo
__METHOD__.PHP_EOL;
    }

    private function
baz()
    {
        echo
__METHOD__.PHP_EOL;
    }
}

$test    =    new TestMagicCallMethod();
$test->foo();
/**
* Outputs:
* TestMagicCallMethod::foo
*/

$test->bar();
/**
* Outputs:
* TestMagicCallMethod::__call
* TestMagicCallMethod::bar
*/

$test->baz();
/**
* Outputs:
* TestMagicCallMethod::__call
* TestMagicCallMethod::baz
*/
?>

..is probably not what you should be doing. Always make sure that the methods you call in __call are allowed as you probably dont want all the private/protected methods to be accessed by a typo or something.
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2
timshaw at mail dot NOSPAMusa dot com
16 years ago
The __get overload method will be called on a declared public member of an object if that member has been unset.

<?php
class c {
  public
$p ;
  public function
__get($name) { return "__get of $name" ; }
}

$c = new c ;
echo
$c->p, "\n" ;    // declared public member value is empty
$c->p = 5 ;
echo
$c->p, "\n" ;    // declared public member value is 5
unset($c->p) ;
echo
$c->p, "\n" ;    // after unset, value is "__get of p"
?>
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1
qi at weiyu dot me
8 years ago
I test those code:

<?php
class A {
        public function
test () {
                static::
who();
               
A::who();
               
self::who();
               
$this->who();
        }  

        public static function
__callStatic($a, $b) {
               
var_dump('A static');
        }  
           
        public function
__call($a, $b) {
               
var_dump('A call');
        }  
}

$a = new A;
$a->test();
?>

And the answer is
string(6) "A call"
string(6) "A call"
string(6) "A call"
string(6) "A call"

I think it means that __call will be called before __callStatic in an instance.
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2
strata_ranger at hotmail dot com
14 years ago
Combining two things noted previously:

1 - Unsetting an object member removes it from the object completely, subsequent uses of that member will be handled by magic methods.
2 - PHP will not recursively call one magic method from within itself (at least for the same $name).

This means that if an object member has been unset(), it IS possible to re-declare that object member (as public) by creating it within your object's __set() method, like this:

<?php
class Foo
{
  function
__set($name, $value)
  {
   
// Add a new (public) member to this object.
    // This works because __set() will not recursively call itself.
   
$this->$name= $value;
  }
}

$foo = new Foo();

// $foo has zero members at this point
var_dump($foo);

// __set() will be called here
$foo->bar = 'something'; // Calls __set()

// $foo now contains one member
var_dump($foo);

// Won't call __set() because 'bar' is now declared
$foo->bar = 'other thing';

?>

Also be mindful that if you want to break a reference involving an object member without triggering magic functionality, DO NOT unset() the object member directly.  Instead use =& to bind the object member to any convenient null variable.
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2
daevid at daevid dot com
14 years ago
Here's a handy little routine to suggest properties you're trying to set that don't exist. For example:

Attempted to __get() non-existant property/variable 'operator_id' in class 'User'.

checking for operator and suggesting the following:

    * id_operator
    * operator_name
    * operator_code

enjoy.

<?php
   
/**
     * Suggests alternative properties should a __get() or __set() fail
     *
     * @param     string $property
     * @return string
     * @author Daevid Vincent [daevid@daevid.com]
     * @date    05/12/09
     * @see        __get(), __set(), __call()
     */
   
public function suggest_alternative($property)
    {
       
$parts = explode('_',$property);
        foreach(
$parts as $i => $p) if ($p == '_' || $p == 'id') unset($parts[$i]);

        echo
'checking for <b>'.implode(', ',$parts)."</b> and suggesting the following:<br/>\n";

        echo
"<ul>";
        foreach(
$this as $key => $value)
            foreach(
$parts as $p)
                if (
stripos($key, $p) !== false) print '<li>'.$key."</li>\n";
        echo
"</ul>";
    }

just put it in your __get() or __set() like so:

    public function
__get($property)
    {
            echo
"<p><font color='#ff0000'>Attempted to __get() non-existant property/variable '".$property."' in class '".$this->get_class_name()."'.</font><p>\n";
           
$this->suggest_alternative($property);
            exit;
    }
?>
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1
strafvollzugsbeamter at gmx dot de
15 years ago
The following works on my installation (5.2.6 / Windows):
<?php
class G
{
    private
$_p = array();
   
    public function
__isset($k)
    {
        return isset(
$this->_p[$k]);
    }
       
    public function
__get($k)
    {
       
$v = NULL;
        if (
array_key_exists($k, $this->_p))
        {
           
$v = $this->_p[$k];
        }
        else
        {
           
$v = $this->{$k} = $this;
        }
       
        return
$v;
    }
   
    public function
__set($k, $v)
    {
       
$this->_p[$k] = $v;
       
        return
$this;
    }   
}

$s = new G();
$s->A->B->C = 'FOO';
$s->X->Y->Z = array ('BAR');

if (isset(
$s->A->B->C))
{
    print(
$s->A->B->C);
}
else
{
    print(
'A->B->C is NOT set');
}

if (isset(
$s->X->Y->Z))
{
   
print_r($s->X->Y->Z);
}
else
{
    print(
'X->Y->Z is NOT set');
}

// prints: FOOArray ( [0] => BAR )
?>

... have fun and  ...
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1
dans at dansheps dot com
12 years ago
Since this was getting me for a little bit, I figure I better pipe in here...

For nested calls to private/protected variables(probably functions too) what it does is call a __get()  on the first object, and if you return the nested object, it then calls a __get() on the nested object because, well it is protected as well.

EG:
<?php
class A
{
protected
$B

public function __construct()
{
$this->B = new B();
}

public function
__get($variable)
{
echo
"Class A::Variable " . $variable . "\n\r";
$retval = $this->{$variable};
return
$retval;
}
}

class
B
{
protected
$val

public function __construct()
{
$this->val = 1;
}

public function
__get($variable)
{
echo
"Class B::Variable " . $variable . "\n\r";
$retval = $this->{$variable};
return
$retval;
}
}

$A = new A();

echo
"Final Value: " . $A->B->val;
?>

That will return something like...

Class A::Variable B
Class B::Variable val
Final Value: 1

It seperates the calls into $A->B and $B->val

Hope this helps someone
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1
Nanhe Kumar
10 years ago
<?php
//How can implement __call function you understand better
class Employee {

    protected
$_name;
    protected
$_email;
    protected
$_compony;

    public function
__call($name, $arguments) {
       
$action = substr($name, 0, 3);
        switch (
$action) {
            case
'get':
               
$property = '_' . strtolower(substr($name, 3));
                if(
property_exists($this,$property)){
                    return
$this->{$property};
                }else{
                   
$trace = debug_backtrace();
                   
trigger_error('Undefined property  ' . $name . ' in ' . $trace[0]['file'] . ' on line ' . $trace[0]['line'], E_USER_NOTICE);
                    return
null;
                }
                break;
            case
'set':
               
$property = '_' . strtolower(substr($name, 3));
                if(
property_exists($this,$property)){
                   
$this->{$property} = $arguments[0];
                }else{
                   
$trace = debug_backtrace();
                   
trigger_error('Undefined property  ' . $name . ' in ' . $trace[0]['file'] . ' on line ' . $trace[0]['line'], E_USER_NOTICE);
                    return
null;
                }
               
                break;
            default :
                return
FALSE;
        }
    }

}

$s = new Employee();
$s->setName('Nanhe Kumar');
$s->setEmail('nanhe.kumar@gmail.com');
echo
$s->getName(); //Nanhe Kumar
echo $s->getEmail(); // nanhe.kumar@gmail.com
$s->setAge(10); //Notice: Undefined property setAge in
?>
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1
Marius
18 years ago
for anyone who's thinking about traversing some variable tree
by using __get() and __set(). i tried to do this and found one
problem: you can handle couple of __get() in a row by returning
an object which can handle consequential __get(), but you can't
handle __get() and __set() that way.
i.e. if you want to:
<?php
   
print($obj->val1->val2->val3); // three __get() calls
?> - this will work,
but if you want to:
<?php
    $obj
->val1->val2 = $val; // one __get() and one __set() call
?> - this will fail with message:
"Fatal error: Cannot access undefined property for object with
overloaded property access"
however if you don't mix __get() and __set() in one expression,
it will work:
<?php
    $obj
->val1 = $val; // only one __set() call
   
$val2 = $obj->val1->val2; // two __get() calls
   
$val2->val3 = $val; // one __set() call
?>

as you can see you can split __get() and __set() parts of
expression into two expressions to make it work.

by the way, this seems like a bug to me, will have to report it.
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2
instatiendaweb at gmail dot com
3 years ago
class funcstatic{
//LLamar a una funcion estatica desde callstatic funciona
static function escribir($texto){echo "$texto"; }
//llamar a una funcion no estatica tambien funciona
function sum($a){echo $a = $a + $a , '<br>';}
}$funcstatic = new funcstatic();
class primertest{
public function __call($name, $arguments){
global $funcstatic;
echo $funcstatic->$name((string)$arguments[0]);
}
public static function __callStatic($name, $arguments){
funcstatic::$name(" {$arguments[0]} ");
}
}//ENDCLASS
echo("<div class=\"div\">");
(new primertest)->sum(5); //Llamando a un metodo no estatico de otra clase
(new primertest)->escribir('Escribiendo y llamando a un metodo estatico de otra clase<br>');
echo("</div>");

class segundotest{
private static function escribir($texto){echo "$texto";}
private function sum($a){echo $a = $a + $a , '<br>';}

public function __call($name, $arguments){
echo $this->$name((string)$arguments[0]);
}
public static function __callStatic($name, $arguments){
    segundotest::$name(" {$arguments[0]} ");
}
}//ENDCLASS
echo("<div class=\"div\">");
(new segundotest)->sum(7); //Llamando a un metodo protegido de la clase
(new segundotest)->escribir('Llamando a un metodo estatico privado de la clase <br>');
echo("</div>");
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1
turabgarip at gmail dot com
2 years ago
I concur that "overloading" is a wrong term for this functionality. But I disagree that this functionality is completely wrong. You can do "bad practice" with right code too.

For example __call() is very well applicable to external integration implementations which I am using to relay calls to SOAP methods which doesn't need local implementation. So you don't have to write "empty body" functions. Consider the SOAP service you connect has a "stock update" method. All you have to do is passing product code and stock count to SOAP.

<?php

class Inventory {

  public
__construct() {
   
// configure and connect to SOAP service
   
$this->soap = new SoapClient();
  }

  public
__call($soapMethod, $params) {
   
$this->soap->{$soapMethod}(params);
  }
}

// Now you can use any SOAP method without needing a wrapper
$stock = new Inventory();
$stock->updatePrice($product_id, 20);
$stock->saveProduct($product_info);

?>

Of course you'd need a parameter mapping but it's in my honest opinion a lot better then having a plenty of mirror methods like:

<?php

class Inventory {

  public function
updateStock($product_id, $stock) {
   
$soapClient->updateStock($product_id, $stock;
  }
  public function
updatePrice($product_id, $price) {
   
$soapClient->updateStock($product_id, $price;
  }
 
// ...
}

?>
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1
elCreator
3 years ago
class Enum {
    protected string $_value;

    protected function __construct(string $value) {
        $this->_value = $value;
    }

    public function is($key)
    {
        return $this->_value === $key;
    }

    public static function __callStatic($name, $params) {
        $value = constant("static::$name");
        if (!$value) {
            throw new \InvalidArgumentException(static::class . " can't be $name");
        }
        return new static($value);
    }

    public function __toString() {
        return $this->_value;
    }
}

class Season extends Enum {
    public const WINTER = 'winter';
    public const SPRING = 'spring';
    public const SUMMER = 'summer';
    public const AUTUMN = 'autumn';
}

$now = Season::AUTUMN(); // Autocomplete works as Season::AUTUMN exists
var_export($now->is(Season::AUTUMN)); // true
var_export("$now" === Season::AUTUMN); // true
var_export($now == Season::AUTUMN); // true
var_export($now == Season::SPRING); // false
echo "$now"; // autumn
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0
zzzzbov
13 years ago
I've written a brief, generic function for __get() and __set() that works well implementing accessor and mutator functions.

This allows the programmer to use implicit accessor and mutator methods when working with attribute data.

<?php

class MyClass
{
    private
$degrees

   
public function __get($name)
    {
       
$fn_name = 'get_' . $name;
        if (
method_exists($this, $fn_name))
        {
            return
$this->$fn_name();
        }
        else
        {
            return
null;
        }
    }

    public function
__set($name, $value)
    {
       
$fn_name = 'set_' . $name;
        if (
method_exists($this, $fn_name))
        {
           
$this->$fn_name($value);
        }
    }

    private function
get_degrees()
    {
        return
$this->degrees;
    }
   
    private function
set_degrees($value)
    {
       
$this->degrees = $value % 360;
        if (
$degrees < 0) $this->degrees += 360;
    }
}

?>
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0
ryo at shadowlair dot info
18 years ago
Keep in mind that when your class has a __call() function, it will be used when PHP calls some other magic functions. This can lead to unexpected errors:

<?php
class TestClass {
    public
$someVar;

    public function
__call($name, $args) {
       
// handle the overloaded functions we know...
        // [...]

        // raise an error if the function is unknown, just like PHP would
       
trigger_error(sprintf('Call to undefined function: %s::%s().', get_class($this), $name), E_USER_ERROR);
    }
}

$obj = new TestClass();
$obj->someVar = 'some value';

echo
$obj; //Fatal error: Call to undefined function: TestClass::__tostring().
$serializedObj = serialize($obj); // Fatal error: Call to undefined function: TestClass::__sleep().
$unserializedObj = unserialize($someSerializedTestClassObject); // Fatal error: Call to undefined function: TestClass::__wakeup().
?>
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0
DevilDude at darkmaker dot com
19 years ago
Php 5 has a simple recursion system that stops you from using overloading within an overloading function, this means you cannot get an overloaded variable within the __get method, or within any functions/methods called by the _get method, you can however call __get manualy within itself to do the same thing.
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-1
jj dhoT maturana aht gmail dhot com
16 years ago
There isn't some way to overload a method when it's called as a reflection method:

<?php

class TestClass {
  function
__call($method, $args) {
    echo
"Method {$method} called with args: " . print_r($args, TRUE);
  }
}

$class = new ReflectionClass("TestClass");
$method = $class->getMethod("myMehtod");

//Fatal error:  Uncaught exception 'ReflectionException' with message 'Method myMethod' does not exist'

?>

Juan.
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-1
seufert at gmail dot com
18 years ago
This allows you to seeminly dynamically overload objects using plugins.

<?php

class standardModule{}

class
standardPlugModule extends standardModule
{
  static
$plugptrs;
  public
$var;
  static function
plugAdd($name, $mode, $ptr)
  {
   
standardPlugModule::$plugptrs[$name] = $ptr;
  }
  function
__call($fname, $fargs)
  { print
"You called __call($fname)\n";
   
$func = standardPlugModule::$plugptrs[$fname];
   
$r = call_user_func_array($func, array_merge(array($this),$fargs));
    print
"Done: __call($fname)\n";
    return
$r;
  }
  function
dumpplugptrs() {var_dump(standardPlugModule::$plugptrs); }
}

class
a extends standardPlugModule
{ function text() { return "Text"; } }
//Class P contained within a seperate file thats included
class p
{ static function plugin1($mthis, $r)
  { print
"You called p::plugin1\n";
   
print_r($mthis);
   
print_r($r);
  }
}
a::plugAdd('callme', 0, array('p','plugin1'));

//Class P contained within a seperate file thats included
class p2
{ static function plugin2($mthis, $r)
  { print
"You called p2::plugin2\n";
   
$mthis->callme($r);
  }
}
a::plugAdd('callme2', 0, array('p2','plugin2'));

$t = new a();
$testr = array(1,4,9,16);
print
$t->text()."\n";
$t->callme2($testr);
//$t->dumpplugptrs();

?>

Will result in:
----------
Text
You called __call(callme2)
You called p2::plugin2
You called __call(callme)
You called p::plugin1
a Object
(
    [var] =>
)
Array
(
    [0] => 1
    [1] => 4
    [2] => 9
    [3] => 16
)
Done: __call(callme)
Done: __call(callme2)
----------

This also clears up a fact that you can nest __call() functions, you could use this to get around the limits to __get() not being able to be called recursively.
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