PHP 7.0.6 Released

The Countable interface

(PHP 5 >= 5.1.0, PHP 7)

Introduction

Classes implementing Countable can be used with the count() function.

Interface synopsis

Countable {
/* Methods */
abstract public int count ( void )
}

Table of Contents

User Contributed Notes

isaac dot z dot foster dot nada at spamporfav dot gmail dot com
5 years ago
I just want to point out that your class has to actually implement the Countable interface, not just define a count method, to be able to use count($object) and get the expected results. I.e. the first example below won't work as expected, the second will. (The normal arrow function accessor ($object->count()) will work fine, but that's not the kewl part :) )

<?php
//Example One, BAD :(

class CountMe
{

    protected
$_myCount = 3;

    public function
count()
    {
        return
$this->_myCount;
    }

}

$countable = new CountMe();
echo
count($countable); //result is "1", not as expected

//Example Two, GOOD :)

class CountMe implements Countable
{

    protected
$_myCount = 3;

    public function
count()
    {
        return
$this->_myCount;
    }

}

$countable = new CountMe();
echo
count($countable); //result is "3" as expected
?>
Anonymous
5 years ago
Note that arrays don't implement countable. Therefore you can't force a countable parameter for a function if you want it also to work with native arrays.
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