PHP supports the concept of variable functions. This means that if
a variable name has parentheses appended to it, PHP will look for
a function with the same name as whatever the variable evaluates
to, and will attempt to execute it. Among other things, this can
be used to implement callbacks, function tables, and so forth.
Variable functions won't work with language constructs such
as echo(), print(),
unset(), isset(),
empty(), include(),
require() and the like. You need to use
your own wrapper function to utilize any of these constructs
as variable functions.
Example 16-13. Variable function example
<?php
function foo() {
echo "In foo()<br />\n";
}
function bar($arg = '')
{
echo "In bar(); argument was '$arg'.<br />\n";
}
// This is a wrapper function around echo
function echoit($string)
{
echo $string;
}
$func = 'foo';
$func(); // This calls foo()
$func = 'bar';
$func('test'); // This calls bar()
$func = 'echoit';
$func('test'); // This calls echoit()
?>
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You can also call an object's method by using the variable functions
feature.
Example 16-14. Variable method example
<?php
class Foo
{
function Variable()
{
$name = 'Bar';
$this->$name(); // This calls the Bar() method
}
function Bar()
{
echo "This is Bar";
}
}
$foo = new Foo();
$funcname = "Variable";
$foo->$funcname(); // This calls $foo->Variable()
?>
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See also call_user_func(),
variable variables and function_exists().
