PHP 7.0.6 Released

Overloading

Overloading in PHP provides means to dynamically "create" properties and methods. These dynamic entities are processed via magic methods one can establish in a class for various action types.

The overloading methods are invoked when interacting with properties or methods that have not been declared or are not visible in the current scope. The rest of this section will use the terms "inaccessible properties" and "inaccessible methods" to refer to this combination of declaration and visibility.

All overloading methods must be defined as public.

Note:

None of the arguments of these magic methods can be passed by reference.

Note:

PHP's interpretation of "overloading" is different than most object oriented languages. Overloading traditionally provides the ability to have multiple methods with the same name but different quantities and types of arguments.

Changelog

Version Description
5.3.0 Added __callStatic(). Added warning to enforce public visibility and non-static declaration.
5.1.0 Added __isset() and __unset(). Added support for __get() for overloading of private properties.
5.0.0 Added __get().

Property overloading

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

__set() is run when writing data to inaccessible properties.

__get() is utilized for reading data from inaccessible properties.

__isset() is triggered by calling isset() or empty() on inaccessible properties.

__unset() is invoked when unset() is used on inaccessible properties.

The $name argument is the name of the property being interacted with. The __set() method's $value argument specifies the value the $name'ed property should be set to.

Property overloading only works in object context. These magic methods will not be triggered in static context. Therefore these methods should not be declared static. As of PHP 5.3.0, a warning is issued if one of the magic overloading methods is declared static.

Note:

The return value of __set() is ignored because of the way PHP processes the assignment operator. Similarly, __get() is never called when chaining assignments together like this:

 $a = $obj->b = 8; 

Example #1 Overloading properties via the __get(), __set(), __isset() and __unset() methods

<?php
class PropertyTest
{
    
/**  Location for overloaded data.  */
    
private $data = array();

    
/**  Overloading not used on declared properties.  */
    
public $declared 1;

    
/**  Overloading only used on this when accessed outside the class.  */
    
private $hidden 2;

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

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

        
$trace debug_backtrace();
        
trigger_error(
            
'Undefined property via __get(): ' $name .
            
' in ' $trace[0]['file'] .
            
' on line ' $trace[0]['line'],
            
E_USER_NOTICE);
        return 
null;
    }

    
/**  As of PHP 5.1.0  */
    
public function __isset($name)
    {
        echo 
"Is '$name' set?\n";
        return isset(
$this->data[$name]);
    }

    
/**  As of PHP 5.1.0  */
    
public function __unset($name)
    {
        echo 
"Unsetting '$name'\n";
        unset(
$this->data[$name]);
    }

    
/**  Not a magic method, just here for example.  */
    
public function getHidden()
    {
        return 
$this->hidden;
    }
}


echo 
"<pre>\n";

$obj = new PropertyTest;

$obj->1;
echo 
$obj->"\n\n";

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

echo 
$obj->declared "\n\n";

echo 
"Let's experiment with the private property named 'hidden':\n";
echo 
"Privates are visible inside the class, so __get() not used...\n";
echo 
$obj->getHidden() . "\n";
echo 
"Privates not visible outside of class, so __get() is used...\n";
echo 
$obj->hidden "\n";
?>

The above example will output:

Setting 'a' to '1'
Getting 'a'
1

Is 'a' set?
bool(true)
Unsetting 'a'
Is 'a' set?
bool(false)

1

Let's experiment with the private property named 'hidden':
Privates are visible inside the class, so __get() not used...
2
Privates not visible outside of class, so __get() is used...
Getting 'hidden'


Notice:  Undefined property via __get(): hidden in <file> on line 70 in <file> on line 29

Method overloading

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

__call() is triggered when invoking inaccessible methods in an object context.

__callStatic() is triggered when invoking inaccessible methods in a static context.

The $name argument is the name of the method being called. The $arguments argument is an enumerated array containing the parameters passed to the $name'ed method.

Example #2 Overloading methods via the __call() and __callStatic() methods

<?php
class MethodTest
{
    public function 
__call($name$arguments)
    {
        
// Note: value of $name is case sensitive.
        
echo "Calling object method '$name' "
             
implode(', '$arguments). "\n";
    }

    
/**  As of PHP 5.3.0  */
    
public static function __callStatic($name$arguments)
    {
        
// Note: value of $name is case sensitive.
        
echo "Calling static method '$name' "
             
implode(', '$arguments). "\n";
    }
}

$obj = new MethodTest;
$obj->runTest('in object context');

MethodTest::runTest('in static context');  // As of PHP 5.3.0
?>

The above example will output:

Calling object method 'runTest' in object context
Calling static method 'runTest' in static context

User Contributed Notes

php_is_painful at world dot real
8 years ago
This is a misuse of the term overloading. This article should call this technique "interpreter hooks".
theaceofthespade at gmail dot com
4 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.
Anonymous
1 year 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);
    }
}
egingell at sisna dot com
8 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.
   
}
}

?>
alexandre at nospam dot gaigalas dot net
8 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 :)
Anonymous
8 years ago
This is a generic implementation to use getter, setter, issetter and unsetter for your own classes.

<?php
abstract class properties
{
  public function
__get( $property )
  {
    if( !
is_callable( array($this,'get_'.(string)$property) ) )
      throw new
BadPropertyException($this, (string)$property);

    return
call_user_func( array($this,'get_'.(string)$property) );
  }

  public function
__set( $property, $value )
  {
    if( !
is_callable( array($this,'set_'.(string)$property) ) )
      throw new
BadPropertyException($this, (string)$property);

   
call_user_func( array($this,'set_'.(string)$property), $value );
  }
 
  public function
__isset( $property )
  {
    if( !
is_callable( array($this,'isset_'.(string)$property) ) )
      throw new
BadPropertyException($this, (string)$property);

    return
call_user_func( array($this,'isset_'.(string)$property) );
  }

  public function
__unset( $property )
  {
    if( !
is_callable( array($this,'unset_'.(string)$property) ) )
      throw new
BadPropertyException($this, (string)$property);

   
call_user_func( array($this,'unset_'.(string)$property) );
  }
}
?>
jan dot machala at email dot cz
5 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
?>
navarr at gtaero dot net
5 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]);
        }
}
?>
NOTE: getter cannot call getter
10 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"
?>
Anonymous
10 years ago
Please note that PHP5's overloading behaviour is not compatible at all with PHP4's overloading behaviour.
Adeel Khan
8 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.
cavetroll3000 at gmail dot com
1 year ago
If you need to also use the magic setter in your constructor, you may use this example:

<?php
class person {
        private
$name;
        private
$addr;
        private
$city;

        function
__construct($n,$a,$c) {
               
$this->__set('name', $n); // Pushing "name" through the setter where it will be validated and sanitated.
               
$this->addr = $a;         // Adress is not validated
             
$this->city = $c;         // Neither is this...
//                $this->__set('city',$c);         // But this is...
       
}

        public function
__get($property) {if (property_exists($this, $property)) {return $this->$property;}}

        public function
__set($property, $value) {
                if (
property_exists($this, $property)) {
                        echo
"<pre>Setting $value</pre>";

                       
// ... Clever code for sanitation...
                       
if ($value == "Evil input from user"){
                                echo
"<pre>Oh no! Bad user! Go sit in the corner!</pre>";
                               
$this->$property = null;
                        } else {
                               
$this->$property = $value;
                        }
                }
                return
$this;
        }
}

$cathy = new person('Cathy','9 Dark and Twisty','Evil input from user');
$cathy->name = "Kitty Kat";

echo
"<pre>" . print_r($cathy,1) . "</pre>";
echo
"<pre>" . $cathy->city . "</pre>";
?>

This code will output:

Setting Kitty Kat
person Object
(
    [name:person:private] => Kitty Kat
    [addr:person:private] => 9 Dark and Twisty
    [city:person:private] => Evil input from user
)
Evil input from user

So it is important to push variables from the user through the setters even in the constructor.
dans at dansheps dot com
4 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
PHP at jyopp dotKomm
10 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);
?>
Nanhe Kumar
2 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
?>
Daniel Smith
4 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.
php at lanar dot com dot au
5 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
derek-php at seysol dot com
10 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";

?>
daevid at daevid dot com
6 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;
    }
?>
seufert at gmail dot com
10 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.
Ant P.
7 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.
jstubbs at work-at dot co dot jp
9 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];
}
?>
ryo at shadowlair dot info
11 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().
?>
strata_ranger at hotmail dot com
6 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.
Nanhe Kumar
2 years ago
<?php
//How can implement __call function
class Student {

    protected
$_name;
    protected
$_email;
   

    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{
                    echo
"Undefined Property";
                }
                break;
            case
'set':
               
$property = '_' . strtolower(substr($name, 3));
                if(
property_exists($this,$property)){
                   
$this->{$property} = $arguments[0];
                }else{
                    echo
"Undefined Property";
                }
               
                break;
            default :
                return
FALSE;
        }
    }

}

$s = new Student();
$s->setNam('Nanhe Kumar');
$s->setEmail('nanhe.kumar@gmail.com');
echo
$s->getName(); //Nanhe Kumar
echo $s->getEmail(); // nanhe.kumar@gmail.com
$s->setAge(10); //Undefined Property
?>
Anonymous
8 years ago
It should be noted that __call will trigger only for method calls on an instantiated object, and cannot be used to 'overload' static methods.  For example:

<?php

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

// this will succeed
$obj = new TestClass();
$obj->method_doesnt_exist();

// this will not
TestClass::method_doesnt_exist();

?>

It would be useful if the PHP devs would include this in a future release, but in the meantime, just be aware of that pitfall.
matthijs at yourmediafactory dot com
8 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!
php at sleep is the enemy dot co dot uk
8 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"
*/

?>
DevilDude at darkmaker dot com
11 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.
Anonymous
6 years ago
It is possible to accomplish method polymorphism via PHP's __call method:
<?php
class Example{
    public function
__call($name, $arguments){
        switch(
$name){
            case
'foo':
                switch(
count($arguments)){
                    case
2:
                        echo
'You called "foo" with two arguments.<br>' . PHP_EOL;
                        break;
                    case
3:
                        echo
'You called "foo" with three arguments.<br>' . PHP_EOL;
                        break;
                    default:
                        echo
'Error: Invalid number of arguments to "foo."<br>' . PHP_EOL;
                        break;
                }
                break;
            default:
                echo
"Error: Call to undefined function \"$name.\"<br>" . PHP_EOL;
        }
    }
}

$test = new Example;
$test->foo('bar', 'baz');
$test->foo('bar', 'baz', 'fez', 'fap');
$test->bar();
?>
erick2711 at gmail dot com
7 years ago
<?php
/***********************************************
*And here follows a child class which implements a menu based in the 'nodoMenu' class (previous note).
*
*[]s
*
*erick2711 at gmail dot com
************************************************/
class menu extends nodoMenu{
    private
$cssc = array();
   
    public function
__toString(){  //Just to show, replace with something better.
       
$stringMenu = "<pre>\n";$stringMenu .= $this->strPrint();$stringMenu .= "</pre>\n";
        return
$stringMenu;
    }

    public function
__construct($cssn = null){
       
parent::__construct();
        if (isset(
$cssn) && is_array($cssn)){$this->cssc = $cssn;}
       
$this->buildMenu();
    }
   
    public function
buildMenu(){
       
$this->add('server',
                  
'Server',
                  
'server.php');
           
$this->server->add('personalD',
                              
'Personal Data',
                              
'server/personal.php');
           
$this->server->add('personalI',
                              
'Personal Interviews',
                              
'server/personalI.php');
               
$this->server->personalI->add('detailsByIer',
                                             
'Detalis by Interviewer',
                                             
'server/personalI.php?tab=detailsByIer');
       
//(...)
       
return $this;
    }
}

//Testing
$meuMenu = new menu;
echo
$meuMenu;
/***********************************************
*Will output (to the browser):
*
*<pre>
*1 Server<br>
*  1.1 Personal Data<br>
*  1.2 Personal Interviews<br>
*      1.2.1 Details by Interviewer<br>
*</pre>
*
*Which shows:
*
*1 Server
*  1.1 Personal Data
*  1.2 Personal Interviews
*      1.2.1 Details by Interviewer
************************************************/
?>
egingell at sisna dot com
8 years ago
The PHP devs aren't going to implement true overloading because: PHP is not strictly typed by any stretch of the imagination (0, "0", null, false, and "" are the same, for example) and unlike Java and C++, you can pass as many values as you want to a function. The extras are ignored unless you fetch them using func_get_arg(int) or func_get_args(), which is often how I "overload" a function/method, and fewer than the declared number of arguments will generate an E_WARNING, which can be suppressed by putting '@' before the function call, but the function will still run as if you had passed null where a value was expected.

<?php
class someClass {
    function
whatever() {
       
$args = func_get_args();
   
       
// public boolean whatever(boolean arg1) in Java
       
if (is_bool($args[0])) {
           
// whatever(true);
           
return $args[0];
   
       
// public int whatever(int arg1, boolean arg2) in Java
       
} elseif(is_int($args[0]) && is_bool($args[1])) {
           
// whatever(1, false)
           
return $args[0];
   
        } else {
           
// public void whatever() in Java
           
echo 'Usage: whatever([int], boolean)';
        }
    }
}
?>

// The Java version:
public class someClass {
    public boolean whatever(boolean arg1) {
        return arg1;
    }
   
    public int whatever(int arg1, boolean arg2) {
        return arg1;
    }
   
    public void whatever() {
        System.out.println("Usage: whatever([int], boolean)");
    }
}
qi at weiyu dot me
4 months 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.
igorsantos07
6 months ago
As stated in another note, this is a gross misuse of the term "overload" as seen in traditional OOP. It's really bad to see an explanation that "PHP interprets this word differently". The use of __get(), __set(), __call() and friends is actually a technique known elsewhere as "metaprogramming", not overloading.
gabe at fijiwebdesign dot com
1 year 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.
cottton at i-stats dot net
1 year 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
bimal at sanjaal dot com
1 year ago
Use of magic functions may make your private variables behave like public ones.
But it becomes strict; you cannot (in fact should not) assign any properties dynamically during the runtime.

<?php
class order
{
    private
$OrderID='';
    private
$OrderAmount=0.00;
   
    public function
__set($name='', $value='')
    {
        if(
property_exists($this, $name))
        {
           
$this->$name = $value;
        }
    }

    public function
__get($name='')
    {
       
$value = null;
        if(
property_exists($this, $name))
        {
           
$value = $this->$name;
        }
        return
$value;
    }
}

$order = new order();
$order->OrderID = '201305062202';
$order->OrderAmount = 23.45;
$order->InvalidMember = 'Missed Assignment';

echo
'<pre>', print_r($order, true), '</pre>';

?>

Outputs:
order Object
(
    [OrderID:order:private] => 201305062202
    [OrderAmount:order:private] => 23.45
)
Nehuen
2 years ago
Overloading other classical typed languages ​​can be emulated in a simple way:

<?php
class overload
{
    protected function
overloaded($method, $params, $type = false, $instance = false)
    {
       
$method .= count($params);
        if(
$type && $params)
        {
            foreach(
$params as $param)
               
$method .= '_'.(gettype($param) == 'object' ? ($instance ? get_class($param) : 'object') : gettype($param));
        }
       
        if(
method_exists($this, $method))
           
call_user_func_array(array($this,$method),$params);
    }   
}

class
test_overload extends overload
{
    public function
test_function() { $this->overloaded('test', func_get_args(), true); }   
   
    protected function
test0()
    {
        echo(
'<br>Hello, I did not pass any parameters.');
    }
   
    protected function
test1_string($string)
    {
        echo(
'<br>Hello, I spent this string: '.$string);
    }
   
    protected function
test1_integer($integer)
    {
        echo(
'<br>Hello, I spent this integer: '.$integer);
    }
   
    protected function
test2_integer_string($integer, $string)
    {
        echo(
'<br>Hello, I spent this integer: '.$integer.' and this string: '.$string);
    }
   
    protected function
test2_string_integer($string, $integer)
    {
        echo(
'<br>Hello, I spent this string: '.$integer.' and this integer: '.$string);
    }
}

$test = new test_overload();
$test->test_function();
$test->test_function('test');
$test->test_function(5);
$test->test_function(5, 'test');
$test->test_function('test', 5);
$test->test_function('2');
ortreum
1 year ago
You can use __call and __callStatic for an very simple function based caching approach. If your method result needs to be cached based on its arguments then you only have to add cached_ infront of the name.

class thebase
{

    private static $cache = array();

    private static function argsAndCache($name, $args)
    {
        $hasArray = false;
        $argsX = $cache = '';
        if (count($args) > 0)
        {
            foreach ($args as $v) if ($hasArray = (is_array($v) || is_object($v))) break;
            $argsX = '$args[' . implode('], $args[', array_keys($args)) . ']';
            $cache = ($hasArray)
                ? md5(json_encode($args))
                : '[$args[' . implode(']], [$args[', array_keys($args)) . ']]';
        }
        $cache = 'self::$cache[\'' . $name . '\']' . $cache;
        return array($argsX, $cache);
    }
   
    public function __call($name, $args)
    {
        list($argsX, $cache) = self::argsAndCache($name, $args);
        eval('$result = isset(' . $cache . ')
            ? ' . $cache . '
            : $this->cached_' . $name . '(' . $argsX . ');');
        return $result;
    }
   
    public static function __callStatic($name, $args)
    {
        list($argsX, $cache) = self::argsAndCache($name, $args);
        eval('$result = isset(' . $cache . ')
            ? ' . $cache . '
            : ' . get_called_class() . '::cached_' . $name . '(' . $argsX . ');');
        return $result;
    }
   
}

class theChild extends thebase
{
    public function cached_abc()
    {
        return 1;
    }

    public static function cached_s_abc()
    {
        return 1;
    }

    public static function normal()
    {
        return 1;
    }

}

$x = new theChild();
echo $x->abc();
echo theChild::s_abc();
echo theChild::normal();
jk at jankriedner dot de
4 years ago
You should take care when using properties retrieved via __get() in functions that expect arguments to be passed by reference (e.g. mysqli_stmt_bind_param). The reference is NOT set to the property itself, but to the value returned by __get().
Thus, binding a property retrieved via __get() to a statement will let the statement be executed always with the value the property had when calling bind_param, not with the current value it has when calling execute().
E.g.:
<?php
error_reporting
(E_ALL);
class
foo {
    protected
$bar;
   
    public function
__construct() {
       
$this->bar = "Hello World!";
    }
    public static function
factory() {
        return new
self;
    }
    public function
__get($property) {
        if(!
property_exists($this,$property)) {
            throw new
InvalidArgumentException("Property {$property} doesn't exist");
        }
        return
$this->$property;
    }
    public function
setBar($value) {
       
$this->bar = $value;
    }
}
$foo = new foo();
echo
$foo->bar;    // Ouputs: Hello World!
$db = new mysqli("localhost","root","","tests");
$sql = "INSERT INTO foo SET bar=?";
$res = $db->prepare($sql);
$res->bind_param("s",$foo->bar);  // Notice: Indirect modification of overloaded property foo::$bar has no effect in /var/www/overload.php on line 24
$res->execute();  // Writes "Hello World!" to database
$foo->setBar("Goodbye");
echo
$foo->bar;   // Outputs: Goodbye
$res->execute();  // Writes "Hello World!" to database
?>
zzzzbov
6 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;
    }
}

?>
f4bi0_ at hotmail dot com
6 years ago
TRICKY CHALLENGE: is there a way to check if $object->variable exists without automatically triggering the functionality of __get in case the variable doesn't exist?

TRADITIONAL WAY:
<?php

$object
= new someClass(); // imagine someClass uses the Magic Method "__get"

if($object->variable){
// do something

} else {

// "__get" has inevitably been triggered :-(

}

?>

Ok, above we have the conventional way to check if a variable exists inside the object, the problem is that sometimes we DON'T WANT TO TRIGGER __GET in case the statement returns false!

ALTERNATIVE WAY:

<?php
if(array_key_exists( 'variable', get_object_vars($object) ) ){

// do something

} else {

// "__get" has no idea what is going on, i think it is still asleep :-)

}

?>

you can even turn this into a function or something
Franz
6 years ago
It says in the documentation that assignment chaining does not work with the __set() function like this:

<?php
$a
= $foo->b = 3;
?>

If you still want to make it work, I suppose you can just turn the variables around:

<?php
$foo
->b = $a = 3;
?>
eric dot druid+php dot net at gmail dot com
6 years ago
I needed to know from where a member variable was set from to determine visibility.

<?php
class foo {
  private
$data;
  public function
__set($name, $value) {
   
$trace = debug_backtrace();
    if(!isset(
$trace[1]) || $trace[1]['object'] != $trace[0]['object']) {
      die(
"Trying to set protected member '$name' from public scope.");
    }
   
$data[$name] = $value;
  }
}
?>
niehztog
7 years ago
If you got a parent class agregating(not inheriting) a number of child classes in an array, you can use the following to allow calling methods of the parent object on agregated child objects:
<?php
class child {
    public
$holder = null;

    public function
__call($name, $arguments) {
        if(
$this->holder instanceof parentClass && method_exists($this->holder, $name)) {
            return
call_user_func_array(array($this->holder, $name), $arguments);
        }
        else {
           
trigger_error();
        }
    }
}

class
parentClass {
    private
$children = array();

    function
__construct() {
       
$this->children[0] = new child();
       
$this->children[0]->holder = $this;
    }

    function
getChild($number) {
        if(!isset(
$this->children[$number])) {
            return
false;
        }
        return
$this->children[$number];
    }

    function
test() {
        return
'it works';
    }
}

$parent = new parentClass();
$firstChild = $parent->getChild(0);
echo
$firstChild->test(); //should output 'it works'
?>
jorge dot hebrard at gmail dot com
7 years ago
This is a great way to give different permissions to parent classes.

<?php
class A{
    private
$b;
    function
foo(){
       
$this->b = new B;
        echo
$this->b->protvar;
    }
}
class
B extends A{
    protected
$protvar="protected var";
    public function
__get($nm) {
       echo
"Default $nm value";
    }
}
$a = new A;
$b = new B;
$a->foo(); // prints "protected var"
echo $b->protvar; // prints "Default protvar value"
?>
This way, you can help parent classes to have more power with protected members.
erick2711 at gmail dot com
7 years ago
<?php
/*
    Here folows a little improvement of the 'strafvollzugsbeamter at gmx dot de' code, allowing each node to hold both 'parameters' and 'child nodes', and differentiate $s->A->B->C ('FOO') from $s->A (same 'FOO', but shouldn't exist) and from $s-A->B (idem).
    This allows the class, using the interesting suggested syntax ($root->dad->child->attribute, in which 'dad's and 'child's names are dynamically generated), to do something actually useful, like implementing a n-tree data structure (a menu, for instance).
    It was tested under PHP 5.2.6 / Windows.
    I know that must there be something better which already do this (probably in the DOM Model classes, or something like), but it was fun to develop this one, for the sake of studying the "magic" methods.
    Its a compressed version of the code (no comments, too short variable names, almost no identation). I had to compress it in order to add the note. If anyone cares about the full version, just email me.
    []s
   
    erick2711 at gmail dot com
*/
class nodoMenu{

    protected
$p  = array();
    protected
$c = array();

    public function
__construct($t = '', $uri = '', $css = null, $n = 0, $i=0){
       
$this->p['t'] = $t;$this->p['uri'] = $uri;$this->p['css'] = $css;$this->p['n'] = $n;$this->p['i'] = $i;$this->p['q'] = 0;return $this;
    }

    public function
add($cn, $ct = '', $cl = '', $css = null){
       
$nc = new nodoMenu($ct, $cl, $css, $this->p['n'] + 1, $this->p['q']);$this->c[$cn] = $nc;$this->p['q'] += 1;return $this->c[$cn];
    }

    private function
isParameter($pn){
        return
array_key_exists($pn, $this->p);
    }
   
    public function
__isset($pn){
        if (
$this->isParameter($pn)){return(!is_null($this->p[$pn]));}
        else{return(
array_key_exists($pn, $this->c));}
    }

    public function
remove($cn){
        if (
array_key_exists($cn, $this->c)){$this->p['q'] -= 1;unset($this->c[$cn]);}
    }

    public function
__unset($pn){
        if (
$this->isParameter($pn)){$this->p[$pn] = null;}
        else{
$this->remove($pn);}
    }

    public function
__set($pn, $v){
       
$r = null;
        if (
$this->isParameter($pn)){$this->p[$pn] = $v;$r = $v;}
        else{if (
array_key_exists($pn, $this->c)){$this->c[$pn] = $v;$r = $this->c[$pn];}
            else{
$r = $this->add($pn);}}   
        return
$r;
    }       

    public function
__get($pn){
       
$v = null;
        if (
$this->isParameter($pn)){$v = $this->p[$pn];}
        else{if (
array_key_exists($pn, $this->c)){$v = $this->c[$pn];}
            else{
$v = $this->add($pn);}}
        return
$v;
    }
   
    public function
hasChilds(){
        return(isset(
$this->c[0]));
    }
   
    public function
child($i){
        return
$this->c[$i];
    }
   
    public function
strPrint($bm = ''){   //Just to show, replace with something better.
       
$m = '';$r = '';$n = $this->p['n'];
        if (
$n > 0){switch($n){case 0:case 1: $qs = 0; break;case 2: $qs = 2; break;case 3: $qs = 6; break;case 4: $qs = 12; break;case 5: $qs = 20; break;case 6: $qs = 30; break;case 7: $qs = 42; break;case 8: $qs = 56; break;}
           
$tab = str_repeat('&nbsp;', $qs);$r .= $tab;
            if (
$bm <> ''){$m = $bm.'.';}
           
$im = $this->p['i'] + 1;$m .= $im;$r .= $m.' ';$r .= $this->p['t']."<br>\n";
        }
        foreach (
$this->c as $child){$r .= $child->strPrint($m);}
        return
$r;
    }
   
    public function
__toString(){
        return
$this->strPrint();
    }
}
?>
timshaw at mail dot NOSPAMusa dot com
8 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"
?>
nospam michael AT netkey DOT at nospam
8 years ago
you CAN write into ARRAYS by using __set and __get magic functions.

as has been mentioned before $obj->var['key'] = 'test'; does call the __get method of $obj, and there is no way to find out, if the method has been called for setting purposes.

the solution is quite simple: use __get to return the array by reference. then you can write into it:

<?php
class setter{
  private
$_arr = array();

  public function
__set($name, $value){
   
$this->_arr[$name] = $value;
  }

  public function &
__get($name){
    if (isset(
$this->_arr[$name])){
      return
$this->_arr[$name];
    } else return
null;
  }

}

?>
jj dhoT maturana aht gmail dhot com
8 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.
v dot umang at gmail dot com
8 years ago
If you want to be able to overload a variable from within a class and this is your code:
<?php
class myClass
{
    private
$data;
    public function
__set($var, $val)
    {
       
$this->data[$var] = $val;
    }
    public function
__get($var)
    {
       
$this->data[$var] = $val;
    }
}
?>

There is a problem if you want to call these variables from within the class, as you you want to access data['data'] then you can't say $this->data as it will return the array $data. Therefore a simple solution is to name the array $_data. So in your __get and __set you will say $this->_data ... rather than $this->data. I.E:
<?php
class myClass
{
    private
$_data;
    public function
__set($var, $val)
    {
       
$this->_data[$var] = $val;
    }
    public function
__get($var)
    {
       
$this->_data[$var] = $val;
    }
}
?>

Umang
ac221 at sussex dot ac dot uk
8 years ago
Just Noting the interesting behavior of __set __get , when modifying objects contained in overloaded properties.

<?php
class foo {
    public
$propObj;
    public function
__construct(){
       
$propObj = new stdClass();
    }
    public function
__get($prop){
        echo(
"I'm Being Got ! \n");
        return
$this->propObj->$prop;
    }
    public function
__set($prop,$val){
        echo(
"I'm Being Set ! \n");
       
$this->propObj->$prop = $val;
    }
}
$test = new foo();
$test->barProp = new stdClass(); // I should invoke set
$test->barProp->barSubProp = 'As Should I';
$test->barProp->barSubProp = 'As Should I';
$test->barProp = new stdClass(); // As should i
?>

Outputs:

I'm Being Set !
I'm Being Got !
I'm Being Got !
I'm Being Set !

Whats happening, is PHP is acquiring a reference to the object, triggering __get; Then applying the changes to the object via the reference.

Which is the correct behaviour; objects being special creatures, with an aversion to being cloned...

Unfortunately this will never invoke the __set handler, even though it is modifying a property within 'foo', which is slightly annoying if you wanted to keep track of changes to an objects overloaded properties.

I guess Journaled Objects will have to wait till PHP 6 :)
Sleepless
10 years ago
Yet another way of providing support for read-only properties.  Any property that has
"pri_" as a prefix will NOT be returned, period, any other property will be returned
and if it was declared to be "protected" or "private" it will be read-only. (scope dependent of course)

<?php
function __get($var){
        if (
property_exists($this,$var) && (strpos($var,"pri_") !== 0) )
            return
$this->{$var};
        else
           
//Do something
}
?>
trash80 at gmail dot com
10 years ago
Problem: $a->b->c(); when b is not instantiated.
Answer: __get()

<?php

class a
{
   function
__get($v)
   {
      
$this->$v = new $v;
       return
$this->$v;
   }
}

class
b
{
    function
say($word){
        echo
$word;
    }
}
$a = new a();
$a->b->say('hello world');

// echos 'hello world'
?>
Anonymous
10 years ago
To those who wish for "real" overloading: there's not really any advantage to using __call() for this -- it's easy enough with func_get_args(). For example:

<?php

   
class Test
   
{
       
        public function
Blah()
        {
           
           
$args = func_get_args();
           
            switch (
count($args))
            {
                case
1: /* do something */ break;
                case
2: /* do something */ break;
            }
           
        }
       
    }

?>
Marius
11 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.
thisisroot at gmail dot com
11 years ago
You can't mix offsetSet() of the ArrayAccess interface (http://www.php.net/~helly/php/ext/spl/interfaceArrayAccess.html) and __get() in the same line.

Below, "FileManagerPrefs" is an object of class UserData which implements ArrayAccess. There's a protected array of UserData objects in the User class, which are returned from __get().
<?php
// This produces an error...
Application::getInstance()->user->FileManagerPrefs[ 'base'] = 'uploads/jack';
?>

Creates this error:
Fatal error: Cannot access undefined property for object with overloaded property access in __FILE__ on line __LINE__

However, __get() and offsetGet() play deceptively well together.

<?php
// This works fine!
echo Application::getInstance()->user->FileManager['base'];
?>

I guess it's a dereferencing issue with __get(). In my case, it makes more sense to have a middle step (user->data['FileManager']['base']), but I wanted to tip off the community before I move on.
Anonymous
5 years ago
Using anon functions, you can allow your class methods to be declared after your class is already set.  Though you cannot use a class property as a function in any way (including for properties that are objects with their own __invoke() method) without triggering a fatal error, there is a workaround using an array property to store all these anon functions...

<?php

class Test {
   
// generic class allowing dynamic addition of methods

   
public $anon_list = array(); // list of all custom added methods

   
function __call($fnc, $args) {return call_user_func_array($this->anon_list[$fnc], $args);}
   
    function
__set($name, $val) {$this->anon_list[$name] = $val;}
   
    }

// Example adding a new custom method
$test = new Test;
$test->do_something = function ($var1, $var2) {echo "custom called with $var1 and $var2\n";};
$test->do_something('asdf', 'test');

?>

Unfortunately, without access to $this within the anon functions, it's not really useful.  You can "use ($test)" in your anon function, but that just makes it more complicated.
MagicalTux at ooKoo dot org
9 years ago
Since many here probably wanted to do «real» overloading without having to think too much, here's a generic __call() function for those cases.

Little example :
<?php
class OverloadedClass {
        public function
__call($f, $p) {
                if (
method_exists($this, $f.sizeof($p))) return call_user_func_array(array($this, $f.sizeof($p)), $p);
               
// function does not exists~
               
throw new Exception('Tried to call unknown method '.get_class($this).'::'.$f);
        }

        function
Param2($a, $b) {
                echo
"Param2($a,$b)\n";
        }

        function
Param3($a, $b, $c) {
                echo
"Param3($a,$b,$c)\n";
        }
}

$o = new OverloadedClass();
$o->Param(4,5);
$o->Param(4,5,6);
$o->ParamX(4,5,6,7);
?>

Will output :
Param2(4,5)
Param3(4,5,6)

Fatal error: Uncaught exception 'Exception' with message 'Tried to call unknown method OverloadedClass::ParamX' in overload.php:7
Stack trace:
#0 [internal function]: OverloadedClass->__call('ParamX', Array)
#1 overload.php(22): OverloadedClass->ParamX(4, 5, 6, 7)
#2 {main}
  thrown in overload.php on line 7
mnaul at nonsences dot angelo dot edu
9 years ago
This is just my contribution. It based off of many diffrent suggestions I've see thought the manual postings.
It should fit into any class and create default get and set methods for all you member variables. Hopfuly its usefull.
<?php
   
public function __call($name,$params)
    {
        if(
preg_match('/(set|get)(_)?/',$name) )
        {
            if(
substr($name,0,3)=="set")
            {
               
$name = preg_replace('/set(_)?/','',$name);
                if(
property_exists(__class__,$name))
                {
                       
$this->{$name}=array_pop($params);
                    return
true;
                }
                else
                {
                   
//call to class error handler
                   
return false;
                }
                return
true;
            }
            elseif(
substr($name,0,3)=="get")
            {
               
$name = preg_replace('/get(_)?/','',$name);
                if(
property_exists(__class__,$name) )
                {
                    return
$this->{$name};
                }
                else
                {
                   
//call to class error handler
                   
return false;
                }
            }
            else
            {
               
//call to class error handler
               
return false;
            }
        }
        else
        {
            die(
"method $name dose not exist\n");
        }
        return
false;
    }
N3hu3n
2 years ago
you can call the method _call passing parameters by reference:

<?php
class MagicCallReference()
{
public function
__call($name, $params)
{
       
var_dump($params);
   
$params[0][0] = '222';
}
}
$magicReference = new MagicCallReference();

$test = 3;
var_dump($test);

$magicReference->setReference(array(&$info));

var_dump($test);
?>

Output:

int 3

array (size=1)
  0 =>
    array (size=1)
      0 => &int 3

string '222' (length=3)
strafvollzugsbeamter at gmx dot de
7 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  ...
ari at asu dot edu
4 years ago
It may be important to note that when __set($name, $value) is called, $name gets entered into the symbol table for that call stack. This means that if a property is set within __set, it will only work if that property's name appears in the call stack (ie if it matches $name). If not, __set will be called again on the new property recursively.

<?php
class test
{
    function
__set($name, $value)
    {
        echo
"__set($name, $value);\n";
       
$this->prop3 = $value; // This will call __set(prop3, value)
       
$this->prop2 = $value; // This will call __set(prop2, value)
       
$this->prop1 = $value; // This will NOT call __set(prop1, value) because $name == prop1.
   
}
}

$test = new test;
$test->prop1 = 'value';
?>

It could be thought of like this: within the function __set($name, $value), $this->[property name] = [value] will recurse unless property name == $name. Within the call stack of __set, __set will never recurse on the same name twice. Once you leave __set (without actually creating the property), the call stack ends and all bets are off.

What this means:
You cannot do things like setting an (uppercase) property to lowercase within __set without expecting __set to be called twice. If you were to add an underscore to the property name, you can expect an infinite recursion loop.

I hope someone finds this useful. It drove me nuts for a few hours.
mileskeaton at gmail dot com
11 years ago
<?php

## THE PROBLEM:  Class with lots of attributes. 
## You want to use $o->getVarName() or $o->get_varname() style getters
## Some attributes have custom get functions, but the rest don't

## THE SOLUTION:  __call

class Person
   
{
   
## this top stuff is just an example.  could be anything.
   
private $name;
    private
$age;
    private
$weight;
    function
__construct($name, $age, $weight)
        {
       
$this->name = $name;
       
$this->age = $age;
       
$this->weight = $weight;
        }

   
##     PORTABLE: use this __call function in any class
   
function __call($val, $x)
        {
       
# see if they're calling a getter method - and try to guess the variable requested
       
if(substr($val, 0, 4) == 'get_')
            {
           
$varname = substr($val, 4);
            }
        elseif(
substr($val, 0, 3) == 'get')
            {
           
$varname = substr($val, 3);
            }
        else
            {
            die(
"method $val does not exist\n");
            }
       
# now see if that variable exists:
       
foreach($this as $class_var=>$class_var_value)
            {
            if(
strtolower($class_var) == strtolower($varname))
                {
                return
$class_var_value;
                }
            }
        return
false;
        }

   
# IMPORTANT: you can keep some things private - or treat
    # some vars differently by giving them their own getter method
    # See how this function lies about Person's weight.
   
function getWeight()
        {
        return
intval($this->weight * .8);
        }
    }

$a = new Person('Miles', 35, 200);

# these all work (case-insensitive):
print $a->get_name() . "\n";
print
$a->getName() . "\n";
print
$a->get_Name() . "\n";
print
$a->getname() . "\n";

print
$a->get_age() . "\n";
print
$a->getAge() . "\n";
print
$a->getage() . "\n";
print
$a->get_Age() . "\n";

# defined functions still override the __call
print $a->getWeight() . "\n";

# trying to get something that doesn't exist returns false
print $a->getNothing();

# this still gets error:
print $a->hotdog();

?>
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