PHP Method Overloading

Overloading in PHP

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. 

PHP Method Overloading 

It is a type of overloading for creating dynamic methods that are not declared within the class scope. PHP method overloading also triggers magic methods dedicated to the appropriate purpose. Unlike property overloading, PHP method overloading allows function call on both object and static context.

 The related magic functions are.

__call(string $name, array $arguments) –  is triggered when invoking inaccessible methods in an object context.

__callStatic(string $name, array $arguments) – 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.

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

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

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

Wali::runTest('in static context');
?>

Output:

Calling object method 'runTest' in object context

Calling static method 'runTest' in static context