Method Overloading in PHP
In the below PHP Program, area() method which is created as dynamic to execute in order to help the magic method of method overloading concept called _call() function. This is the program to show the area of the circle and the rectangle using some parameters and call() function of the method overloading concept.
Method Overloading in PHP
Introduction to Method Overloading in PHP
method overloading is one type of Overloading other than Property Overloading. It is to create one/many dynamic methods that are not created within that class scope/scopes. PHP method overloading concept also helps in triggering the Magic methods which are dictated for the appropriate purpose. Apart from the property overloading concept, the PHP method’s overloading concept allows function call/calls on both the object and also the static context. Basically is one of the methods of OOPs.
Public _call (string $name1 , array $arguments1 ) : mixed Public static _callStatic (string $name1 , array $arguments1 ) : mixed
How does Method Overloading work in PHP?
The Method Overloading works with the declaration inside the class by creating dynamic methods. It also works by triggering some magic methods for an appropriate purpose and it also calls function/function calls on both the static context and the object. Method Overloading concept is also fine with most of the other programming languages like c, java, etc.. Method Overloading concept is also called a static polymorphic concept.
There are some of the magic functions, they are:
- _call(): This call() magic function will be triggered in order to invoke the overloaded method/methods which are in the object context.
- _callStatic(): This callstatic() magic function will also be triggered in order to invoke the overloaded concepts/methods which are in the static context.
Examples of Method Overloading in PHP
Here are the examples of Method Overloading in PHP mention below
Example #1
The $name1 argument which is in the below PHP programming language is the name of the method which is to be called whereas $arguments are one of the enumerated arrays which contain the parameters/arguments which are used to pass to the $name ’ed method.
_call() function used using 2 parameters $name1 and $arguments1. Implode() function actually returns string from the array elements i.e., from the string/sentence. In Implode(separator, array), the separator is the optional parameter but it just a recommendation to use both of the parameters for backward compatibility. The specific type of separator in the separator parameter will insert separator to the words/strings which are present in the array parameter.
The Obj variable will create a new object called SPK. Obj-> will helps in order to access the methods and the properties of the object. Spk will execute from the static context whereas the obj will run from the object context.
public static function __callStatic($name1, $arguments1) < echo "static method Calling '$name1' " . implode(', ', $arguments1). "\n"; >> // Create new object $obj = new SPK; $obj->runTest('in one of the object context'); SPK::runTest('in one of the static context'); ?>
Example #2
In the below example, the foo1 class is created with only the _call() function with the die() function in order to print a message and also exits from the current program/PHP script. Die() is the same as the exit() function which accepts just one parameter inside of its a parenthesis.
Foo1-> will helps in order to access the methods and the properties of the object from the variable $foo1.
> $foo1 = new Foo1; print $foo1->(); // outputs ' wow !' ?>
Example #3
This is the example of method overloading in the PHP programming language using the call() function and private/protected methods.
Here calling the private/protected methods is done by accessing by the typo or something etc..
Echo _METHOD_PHP_EOL will return what type of method is used. It is done by using only the _call() function which runs from the object context.
public function __call($method1, $args1) < echo __METHOD__.PHP_EOL; if(method_exists($this, $method1)) < $this->$method1(); > > protected function bar1() < echo __METHOD__.PHP_EOL; >private function baz1() < echo __METHOD__.PHP_EOL; >> $test = new TestMagicCallMethod1(); $test->foo1(); $test->bar1(); $test->baz1(); ?>
Example #4
This is the program of call() and call static() functions concept which is used for method overloading concept. Here in this PHP program which is below will call _call() function first before the _callstatic() function which is in the instance.
Var dump() will provide information about the variable which is in the parenthesis in PHP & some of the other object-oriented programming languages too. Other than that everything is the same just like the above examples.
who(); > public static function __callStatic($a1, $b1) < var_dump('A1 static'); >public function __call($a1, $b1) < var_dump('A1 call'); >> $a1 = new A1; $a1->test1(); ?>
Example #5
This is the example of _call() function if the object’s class is called with the method which doesn’t even exist then _call() function’s concept is called instead of the method.
In the below PHP Program, area() method which is created as dynamic to execute in order to help the magic method of method overloading concept called _call() function. Its behavior will change based on the parameters of the object which are passed.
> > $circle1 = new Shape1(); echo $circle1->area1(3); $rect1 = new Shape1(); echo $rect1->area1(8,6); ?>
Example #6
Here both the _call() and _callstatic() functions are used just like the 1 st example.
public static function __callStatic($name1,$pavan1) < echo "Magic method invoked while method overloading with static access"; >> $objToys1 = new Toys1; $objToys1->overloaded_method(); Toys1::overloaded_property(); ?>
Example #7
Call() function of Method Overloading triggered and invoked the inaccessible methods which are in the object context. Call() is mixed with the syntax _call(string $name1 , array $arguments1).
Then $name1 parameter is for the name of the method which is to be called whereas the array $arguments1 is the parameter which is an enumerated array which contains/has the parameters which are to be passed to the $name variables method.
if (count($arguments1) === 2) < $this->displayMessage12($arguments1[0],$arguments1[1]); > elseif (count($arguments1) === 1) < $this->displayMessage11($arguments1[0]); > else < echo "\n unknown method"; return false; >> function displayMessage11($var11) < echo "\n from func1($var11)"; >function displayMessage12($var11,$var12) < echo "\n from func2($var11,$var12)"; >> $obj1 = new ABC1; $obj1->displayMessage11('hello'); $obj1->displayMessage12('hello','hello2'); $obj1->displayMessage13('Hello'); ?>
Example #8
It is also just like the first example program. Check it once.
public static function __callStatic($name1,$pavan1) < echo "\n-----It is now With the static reference \n"; >> // Here now creating the object of the class " MethodOverloading " $obj1 = new MethodOverloading1; echo "Method Overloading1 Now in Command "; // Now using the object's reference $obj1->DemoTest1(); // Now using the static's reference MethodOverloading1::DemoTest1(); ?>
Example #9
This is the program to show the area of the circle and the rectangle using some parameters and call() function of the method overloading concept. Only with the object context, the program will run due to the object assigning of an object variable to the class, etc.
> > $circle1 = new TDshape1(); echo "Area of the circle:".$circle1->area1(15); // display output of the area of circle $rect1 = new TDshape1(); echo "\n Area of the rectangle:".$rect1->area1(5,11); // display output of the area of rectangle ?>
Final thoughts
This is a guide to Method Overloading in PHP. Here we discuss the basic concept, how does Method Overloading work in PHP along with various examples. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –
Comparison operator overloading in php, Teams. Q&A for work. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Learn more
What is method overloading in PHP?
Method Overloading is a concept of Object Oriented Programming which helps in building the composite application in an easy way. Function overloading or method overloading is a feature that permits making creating several methods with a similar name that works differently from one another in the type of the input parameters it accepts as arguments.
The above concept is fine for other programming languages and it is called static polymorphic i.e method overloading.
Example
Let’s understand through an example.
function doTask($var1,$var2) < return $var1 * $var1 ; >> $task1 = new machine(); $task1->doTask(5,10); ?>
Output:
Explanation:
This will generate an error since php will say you have declared this method twice.
But Other programming languages says , doTask($var1) and doTask($var1,$var2) are overloaded methods. To call the latter, two parameters must be passed, whereas the former requires only one parameter.
so this behavior i.e decision to call a function at coding time is known as static polymorphic i.e method overloading.
Let’s discuss how to achieve method overloading related to PHP5.In the case of PHP, we have to utilize PHP’s magic methods __call() to achieve method overloading.
In php overloading means the behavior of method changes dynamically according to the input parameter. In this tutorial, we will understand those perceptions. Let’s discuss the __call() method.
__call():
If a class execute __call(), then if an object of that class is called with a method that doesn’t exist then__call() is called instead of that method.
Example
Let’s understand method overloading with an example.
> > $circle = new Shape(); echo $circle->area(3); $rect = new Shape(); echo $rect->area(8,6); ?>
Output:
Explanation:
Here area() method is created dynmically and executed with the help of magic method __call() and it’s behaviour changes according to pass of parametrs as object.
Oop — Overloading construct in php?, Find centralized, trusted content and collaborate around the technologies you use most. Learn more
Method overloading in PHP is bad practice?
Trying to achieve method overloading using PHP (don’t confuse with overloading definition from PHP manual), is not easy there is clear trade off, because of nature of PHP you have to have one method and if or switch statement inside to provide overloading, it creates procedural code that is difficult to read in long methods.
Is there any advantage of having method overloading in PHP, can it be achieved in any other way?
class MyClass < public function doMany($input) < if (is_array($input)) < . >else if (is_float($input)) < . >> >
versus traditional approach
class MyClass < public function doArray(array $input) < . >public function doFloat(float $input) < . >>
The traditional approach would be:
class Aclass < public function doStuff(int $a) < // return other stuff >public function doStuff(float $a) < // return other stuff >>
Notice the same function name just different type for the paramaters.
Your first approach is usually the way to go if you want to simulate overloading in php. Generally speaking you don’t really need overloading in PHP since it’s loosely type and by definition you can’t really have overloading.
To answer your question. If you really need to have overloading, then your first approach seems appropriate. Use a switch to make it more readable.
Disclaimer: While you can do that, I don’t recommend it. Heck, you can do just about anything if you want to. It doesn’t mean you should.
Oop — Constructor Overloading in PHP, As other languages such as C++ and Java uses the above approach to overload the constructors how to do it in PHP OOP? Additional Information. Im using *PHP 5.3.2 in LAMP * which OOP concepts should fully supported in this version