PHP Magic Methods

Advanced~30 min read

Magic methods are special methods that PHP calls automatically in specific situations. They start with __ (double underscore) and enable powerful dynamic behavior!

<?php
// Magic Methods

class MagicExample
{
    private $data = [];

// __get - called when accessing inaccessible property
    public function __get($name)
    {
        echo "__get called for: $name\n";
        return $this->data[$name] ?? null;
    }

// __set - called when setting inaccessible property
    public function __set($name, $value)
    {
        echo "__set called for: $name = $value\n";
        $this->data[$name] = $value;
    }

// __isset - called when using isset() on inaccessible property
    public function __isset($name)
    {
        return isset($this->data[$name]);
    }

// __unset - called when using unset() on inaccessible property
    public function __unset($name)
    {
        unset($this->data[$name]);
    }

// __toString - called when object is used as string
    public function __toString()
    {
        return "MagicExample object with " . count($this->data) . " properties";
    }

// __call - called when invoking inaccessible method
    public function __call($name, $arguments)
    {
        echo "__call: $name(" . implode(", ", $arguments) . ")\n";
    }
}

$obj = new MagicExample();

// Triggers __set
$obj->name = "John";
$obj->age = 30;

// Triggers __get
echo $obj->name . "\n";

// Triggers __toString
echo $obj . "\n";

// Triggers __call
$obj->someMethod("arg1", "arg2");

// Triggers __isset
var_dump(isset($obj->name));

Output

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Common Magic Methods

Method	Called When
`__get($name)`	Accessing inaccessible property
`__set($name, $value)`	Setting inaccessible property
`__toString()`	Object used as string
`__call($name, $args)`	Calling inaccessible method
`__isset($name)`	isset() on inaccessible property

get and set

<?php
class Magic {
    private $data = [];
    
    public function __get($name) {
        return $this->data[$name] ?? null;
    }
    
    public function __set($name, $value) {
        $this->data[$name] = $value;
    }
}

$obj = new Magic();
$obj->name = "John";  // Calls __set
echo $obj->name;      // Calls __get
?>

__toString

<?php
class User {
    public function __toString() {
        return "User object";
    }
}

$user = new User();
echo $user;  // "User object"
?>

Summary

Magic methods: Start with __
Automatic: PHP calls them
__get/__set: Dynamic properties
__toString: String conversion
__call: Dynamic methods

What's Next?

Congratulations! You've completed Module 7 (OOP). Next, dive into Superglobals & Forms - handling user input!

Previous Static Members

Next Superglobals Overview

Common Magic Methods

__get and __set

__toString

Summary

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get and set