How to override built-in functions in PHP?

Question

I am trying to apply a python concept in PHP. In python we can override the __str__ method of a class to change the string representation of an object.

Is there a similar concept in PHP and what does the syntax look like?

Read the [documentation about magic methods](http://php.net/manual/language.oop5.magic.php), please. — ComFreek, Mar 31 '14 at 19:46

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 31 '14 at 19:46

4

__toString() is what you are looking for.

http://www.php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.magic.php#object.tostring

answered Mar 31 '14 at 19:46

Balázs Édes

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score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 31 '14 at 19:50

There are a limited number of methods that you can define for a class via the magic methods.

http://php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.magic.php

PHP allows you to define functions for these methods only. You are not able to override the number of methods like in Python (mathematical operations, comparisons, etc.)

How to override built-in functions in PHP?

2 Answers2