Introduction to PHP5 Page 5

__call

In PHP5 the special __call() method can be implemented in a class as a “catch all” method for methods not implemented
in the class. If you call a method not accessible or a method that doesn’t exist the __call method (if defined) will be
called.

Example 7: __call

<?php
class foo {
  function __call($name,$arguments) {
    print("Did you call me? I'm $name!");
  }
}
$x = new foo();
$x->doStuff();
$x->fancy_stuff();
?>

This special method can be used to implement method overloading because you can examine the arguments and call a
private ad-hoc method depending on the arguments passed, example.

Exampe 8: Overloading methods with __call

<?php
class Magic {
  function __call($name,$arguments) {
    if($name=='foo') {
      if(is_int($arguments[0])) $this->foo_for_int($arguments[0]);
      if(is_string($arguments[0])) $this->foo_for_string($arguments[0]);
    }
  }
  private function foo_for_int($x) {
    print("oh an int!");
  }
  private function foo_for_string($x) {
    print("oh a string!");
  }
}
$x = new Magic();
$x->foo(3);
$x->foo("3");
?>

__set and __get

And this gets even fancier, the __set and __get methods can be implemented as catch-all methods for accessing
or setting variables not defined (or not accessible).

Example 9: __set and __get

<?php
class foo {
  function __set($name,$val) {
    print("Hello, you tried to put $val in $name");
  }
  function __get($name) {
    print("Hey you asked for $name");
  }
}
$x = new foo();
$x->bar = 3;
print($x->winky_winky);
?>