重载

PHP所提供的重载(overloading)是指动态地创建类属性和方法。我们是通过魔术方法(magic methods)来实现的。

当调用当前环境下未定义或不可见的类属性或方法时,重载方法会被调用。本节后面将使用不可访问属性(inaccessible properties)不可访问方法(inaccessible methods)来称呼这些未定义或不可见的类属性或方法。

所有的重载方法都必须被声明为 public

Note:

这些魔术方法的参数都不能通过引用传递

Note:

PHP中的重载与其它绝大多数面向对象语言不同。传统的重载是用于提供多个同名的类方法,但各方法的参数类型和个数不同。

更新日志

版本 说明
5.3.0 新增 __callStatic()魔术方法。可见性未设置为 public 或未声明为 static 的时候会产生一个警告。
5.1.0 新增 __isset()__unset() 两个魔术方法。

属性重载

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

在给不可访问属性赋值时,__set() 会被调用。

读取不可访问属性的值时,__get() 会被调用。

当对不可访问属性调用 isset()empty() 时,__isset() 会被调用。

当对不可访问属性调用 unset() 时,__unset() 会被调用。

参数 $name 是指要操作的变量名称。__set() 方法的 $value 参数指定了 $name 变量的值。

属性重载只能在对象中进行。在静态方法中,这些魔术方法将不会被调用。所以这些方法都不能被 声明为 static。从 PHP 5.3.0 起, 将这些魔术方法定义为 static 会产生一个警告。

Note:

因为 PHP 处理赋值运算的方式,__set() 的返回值将被忽略。类似的, 在下面这样的链式赋值中,__get() 不会被调用:

 $a = $obj->b = 8; 

Note:

在除 isset() 外的其它语言结构中无法使用重载的属性,这意味着当对一个重载的属性使用 empty() 时,重载魔术方法将不会被调用。

为避开此限制,必须将重载属性赋值到本地变量再使用 empty()

Example #1 使用 __get()__set()__isset()__unset() 进行属性重载

<?php
class PropertyTest {
     
/**  被重载的数据保存在此  */
    
private $data = array();

 
     
/**  重载不能被用在已经定义的属性  */
    
public $declared 1;

     
/**  只有从类外部访问这个属性时,重载才会发生 */
    
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;
    }

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

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

    
/**  非魔术方法  */
    
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";
?>

以上例程会输出:

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

方法重载

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

在对象中调用一个不可访问方法时,__call() 会被调用。

在静态上下文中调用一个不可访问方法时,__callStatic() 会被调用。

$name 参数是要调用的方法名称。$arguments 参数是一个枚举数组,包含着要传递给方法 $name 的参数。

Example #2 使用 __call()__callStatic() 对方法重载

<?php
class MethodTest 
{
    public function 
__call($name$arguments
    {
        
// 注意: $name 的值区分大小写
        
echo "Calling object method '$name' "
             
implode(', '$arguments). "\n";
    }

    
/**  PHP 5.3.0之后版本  */
    
public static function __callStatic($name$arguments
    {
        
// 注意: $name 的值区分大小写
        
echo "Calling static method '$name' "
             
implode(', '$arguments). "\n";
    }
}

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

MethodTest::runTest('in static context');  // PHP 5.3.0之后版本
?>

以上例程会输出:

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

User Contributed Notes

simurgrai at gmail dot com 30-Aug-2017 06:50
For silent data encapsulation in PHP

<?php

Class Test
{
     function
__set($name, $value) {}
}

$obj = new test();
$obj->prop1 = 'foobar';

print_r($obj); // Prints Test Object ( )
echo $obj->prop1; //Give NOTICE Undefined property: Test::$prop1
?>
niki_arsov at mail dot bg 11-Aug-2017 05:32
<?php
class Overload
{
  function
__call($function, $params)
  {
   
$function = '_' . $function;
   
$this->$function($params);
  }

  public function
_show($params )
  {
   
$res = '';
    switch (
count($params)) {
      case
0:
       
$res = sprintf("method show with %d arg", 0);
        break;
      case
1:
         
$res = sprintf("method show with %d arg: %s", 1, $params[0]);
         
$res .= $this->getType($params[0]);
          break;
      case
2:
         
$res = sprintf("method show with %d arg: %s, %s", 2, $params[0], $params[1]);
         
$res .= $this->getType($params[0]);
         
$res .= $this->getType($params[1]);
          break;
      default:
       
# code...
       
break;
    }

    print
$res . "\n";
  }

  private function
getType($arg)
  {
   
$res = '';
    switch (
gettype($arg)) {
      case
'double':
       
$res .= ' - double';
        break;
      case
'string':
       
$res .= ' - string';
        break;
      case
'integer':
       
$res .= ' - integer';
        break;
      default:
       
$res .= ' - ';
        break;
    }

    return
$res;
  }

}

$class = new Overload;

$class->show();
$class->show(12);
$class->show(12.5);
$class->show('test');
$class->show('test', 1.5);
?>

Will output:
method show with 0 arg
method show with 1 arg: 12 - integer
method show with 1 arg: 12.5 - double
method show with 1 arg: test - string
method show with 2 arg: test, 1.5 - string - double
niki_arsov at mail dot bg 11-Aug-2017 05:30
class Overload
{
  function __call($function, $params)
  {
    $function = '_' . $function;
    $this->$function($params);
  }

  public function _show($params )
  {
    $res = '';
    switch (count($params)) {
      case 0:
        $res = sprintf("method show with %d arg", 0);
        break;
      case 1:
          $res = sprintf("method show with %d arg: %s", 1, $params[0]);
          $res .= $this->getType($params[0]);
          break;
      case 2:
          $res = sprintf("method show with %d arg: %s, %s", 2, $params[0], $params[1]);
          $res .= $this->getType($params[0]);
          $res .= $this->getType($params[1]);
          break;
      default:
        # code...
        break;
    }

    print $res . "\n";
  }

  private function getType($arg)
  {
    $res = '';
    switch (gettype($arg)) {
      case 'double':
        $res .= ' - double';
        break;
      case 'string':
        $res .= ' - string';
        break;
      case 'integer':
        $res .= ' - integer';
        break;
      default:
        $res .= ' - ';
        break;
    }

    return $res;
  }

}

$class = new Overload;

$class->show();
$class->show(12);
$class->show(12.5);
$class->show('test');
$class->show('test', 1.5);

Output:
method show with 0 arg
method show with 1 arg: 12 - integer
method show with 1 arg: 12.5 - double
method show with 1 arg: test - string
method show with 2 arg: test, 1.5 - string - double
mfdboy at 163 dot com 22-Feb-2017 12:27
class MethodTest
{
    public static function __callStatic($name, $arguments)
    {
        // Note: value of $name is case sensitive.
        echo "Calling Non-static,private method '$name' "
             . implode(', ', $arguments). "\n";
    }

    public function runTest($arguments){
        //TODO
    }
}

MethodTest::runTest('in static context');
if you write code like this,php will display error PHP Strict standards:  Non-static method MethodTest::runTest() should not be called statically
class MethodTest
{
    public static function __callStatic($name, $arguments)
    {
        // Note: value of $name is case sensitive.
        echo "Calling Non-static,private method '$name' "
             . implode(', ', $arguments). "\n";
    }

    private function runTest($arguments){
        //TODO
    }
}

MethodTest::runTest('in static context');
but this won't
It means public Non-static method is not inaccessible
david dot bruchmann at gmail dot com 28-Jan-2017 08:41
As mentioned by "pogregoire##live.fr" you can attach properties to an object like shown in his example:
<?php
class Object{

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

var_dump($Objet);    // object(Objet)#1 (1) { ["barbarianProperties"]=> string(7) "boom" }
?>
This is surly not the right way to use variables and objects but never has any influence on the object itself, the new property is only associated with the object.
It's not possible to inject closures like this to get protected properties or do any actions:

<?php
class abc {
    protected
$a = NULL;
    protected
$b = NULL;
    public function
__construct($a=NULL, $b=NULL){
       
$this->a = $a;
       
$this->b = $b;
    }
}
$abc = new abc('uvw','xyz');
var_dump($abc);

$abc->undefined = (function(){
   
var_dump($this);
    return
$this->a.', '.$this->b;
});
var_dump($abc);
echo
$abc->undefined();
?>

Output:

object(abc)#1 (2) {
    ["def":protected]=> string(3) "uvw"
    ["ghi":protected]=> string(3) "xyz"
}

object(abc)#1 (3) {
    ["def":protected]=> string(3) "uvw"
    ["ghi":protected]=> string(3) "xyz"
    ["undefined"]=> object(Closure)#2 (0) { }
}

Fatal error: Call to undefined method abc::undefined() in test.php
pogregoire##live.fr 17-Sep-2016 01:17
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');
    }
}
Anonymous 30-May-2016 07:13
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);
}
?>
qi at weiyu dot me 31-Dec-2015 02:59
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.
Anonymous 09-Apr-2015 12:34
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);
    }
}
gabe at fijiwebdesign dot com 27-Nov-2014 08:33
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 13-Sep-2014 11:58
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 19-Jun-2014 06:05
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
)
cavetroll3000 at gmail dot com 24-May-2014 10:40
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.
Nehuen 12-Mar-2014 02:43
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');
Nanhe Kumar 23-Jan-2014 07:28
<?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
?>
Nanhe Kumar 18-Jan-2014 07:47
<?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
?>
theaceofthespade at gmail dot com 24-Mar-2012 06:35
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.
dans at dansheps dot com 01-Aug-2011 05:38
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
jk at jankriedner dot de 07-Jun-2011 12:15
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
?>
Daniel Smith 24-May-2011 01:15
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.
jan dot machala at email dot cz 15-Apr-2011 12:47
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
?>
php at lanar dot com dot au 13-Jun-2010 02:39
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
navarr at gtaero dot net 15-May-2010 10:25
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]);
        }
}
?>
zzzzbov 26-Apr-2010 09:30
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 01-Apr-2010 10:12
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
strata_ranger at hotmail dot com 07-Oct-2009 06:56
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.
eric dot druid+php dot net at gmail dot com 02-Jul-2009 01:22
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] = $value;
  }
}
?>
Anonymous 06-Jun-2009 12:54
It is possible to accomplish method polymorphism via PHP's __call method:
<?php
class Example{
    public function
__call($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();
?>
daevid at daevid dot com 15-May-2009 06:16
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;
    }
?>
niehztog 14-Feb-2009 07:59
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'
?>
Ant P. 21-Dec-2008 05:40
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.
strafvollzugsbeamter at gmx dot de 16-Jul-2008 09:57
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  ...
Anonymous 30-Apr-2008 10:02
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) );
  }
}
?>
nospam michael AT netkey DOT at nospam 01-Apr-2008 07:10
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;
  }

}

?>
timshaw at mail dot NOSPAMusa dot com 29-Jan-2008 06:47
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"
?>
jj dhoT maturana aht gmail dhot com 25-Jan-2008 01:16
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 12-Jan-2008 06:20
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
Anonymous 09-Jan-2008 04:45
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.
egingell at sisna dot com 21-Dec-2007 04:54
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)");
    }
}
matthijs at yourmediafactory dot com 16-Dec-2007 08:09
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_is_painful at world dot real 19-Oct-2007 04:49
This is a misuse of the term overloading. This article should call this technique "interpreter hooks".
egingell at sisna dot com 15-Sep-2007 02:12
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.
   
}
}

?>
ac221 at sussex dot ac dot uk 01-Sep-2007 07:07
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 :)
php at sleep is the enemy dot co dot uk 23-Jul-2007 04:23
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"
*/

?>
Adeel Khan 10-Jul-2007 10:18
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.
alexandre at nospam dot gaigalas dot net 08-Jul-2007 07:59
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 :)
MagicalTux at ooKoo dot org 06-Sep-2006 11:35
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
jstubbs at work-at dot co dot jp 02-Sep-2006 06:12
<?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];
}
?>
mnaul at nonsences dot angelo dot edu 11-Jul-2006 09:58
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;
    }
Sleepless 24-Feb-2006 08:22
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
}
?>
derek-php at seysol dot com 10-Feb-2006 09:08
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";

?>
PHP at jyopp dotKomm 22-Dec-2005 08:01
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);
?>
seufert at gmail dot com 02-Nov-2005 01:25
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.
NOTE: getter cannot call getter 04-Aug-2005 09:37
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"
?>
Marius 02-May-2005 11:15
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.
ryo at shadowlair dot info 22-Mar-2005 07:22
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().
?>
DevilDude at darkmaker dot com 23-Sep-2004 04:57
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.