Magic Methods The function names __construct(), __destruct(), __call(), __callStatic(), __get(), __set(), __isset(), __unset(), __sleep(), __wakeup(), __toString(), __invoke(), __set_state(), __clone() and __debugInfo() are magical in PHP classes. You cannot have functions with these names in any of your classes unless you want the magic functionality associated with them. PHP reserves all function names starting with __ as magical. It is recommended that you do not use function names with __ in PHP unless you want some documented magic functionality. <link linkend="object.sleep">__sleep()</link> and <link linkend="object.wakeup">__wakeup()</link> public array__sleep void__wakeup serialize checks if your class has a function with the magic name __sleep(). If so, that function is executed prior to any serialization. It can clean up the object and is supposed to return an array with the names of all variables of that object that should be serialized. If the method doesn't return anything then &null; is serialized and E_NOTICE is issued. It is not possible for __sleep() to return names of private properties in parent classes. Doing this will result in an E_NOTICE level error. Instead you may use the Serializable interface. The intended use of __sleep() is to commit pending data or perform similar cleanup tasks. Also, the function is useful if you have very large objects which do not need to be saved completely. Conversely, unserialize checks for the presence of a function with the magic name __wakeup(). If present, this function can reconstruct any resources that the object may have. The intended use of __wakeup() is to reestablish any database connections that may have been lost during serialization and perform other reinitialization tasks. Sleep and wakeup dsn = $dsn; $this->username = $username; $this->password = $password; $this->connect(); } private function connect() { $this->link = new PDO($this->dsn, $this->username, $this->password); } public function __sleep() { return array('dsn', 'username', 'password'); } public function __wakeup() { $this->connect(); } }?> ]]> <link linkend="object.tostring">__toString()</link> public string__toString The __toString() method allows a class to decide how it will react when it is treated like a string. For example, what echo $obj; will print. This method must return a string, as otherwise a fatal E_RECOVERABLE_ERROR level error is emitted. You cannot throw an exception from within a __toString() method. Doing so will result in a fatal error. Simple example foo = $foo; } public function __toString() { return $this->foo; } } $class = new TestClass('Hello'); echo $class; ?> ]]> &example.outputs; It is worth noting that before PHP 5.2.0 the __toString() method was only called when it was directly combined with echo or print. Since PHP 5.2.0, it is called in any string context (e.g. in printf with %s modifier) but not in other types contexts (e.g. with %d modifier). Since PHP 5.2.0, converting objects without __toString() method to string would cause E_RECOVERABLE_ERROR. <link linkend="object.invoke">__invoke()</link> mixed__invoke ... The __invoke() method is called when a script tries to call an object as a function. This feature is available since PHP 5.3.0. Using <link linkend="object.invoke">__invoke()</link> ]]> &example.outputs; <link linkend="object.set-state">__set_state()</link> static object__set_state arrayproperties This static method is called for classes exported by var_export since PHP 5.1.0. The only parameter of this method is an array containing exported properties in the form array('property' => value, ...). Using <link linkend="object.set-state">__set_state()</link> (since PHP 5.1.0) var1 = $an_array['var1']; $obj->var2 = $an_array['var2']; return $obj; } } $a = new A; $a->var1 = 5; $a->var2 = 'foo'; eval('$b = ' . var_export($a, true) . ';'); // $b = A::__set_state(array( // 'var1' => 5, // 'var2' => 'foo', // )); var_dump($b); ?> ]]> &example.outputs; int(5) ["var2"]=> string(3) "foo" } ]]> <link linkend="object.debuginfo">__debugInfo()</link> array__debugInfo This method is called by var_dump when dumping an object to get the properties that should be shown. If the method isn't defined on an object, then all public, protected and private properties will be shown. This feature was added in PHP 5.6.0. Using <link linkend="object.debuginfo">__debugInfo()</link> prop = $val; } public function __debugInfo() { return [ 'propSquared' => $this->prop ** 2, ]; } } var_dump(new C(42)); ?> ]]> &example.outputs; int(1764) } ]]>