In what scenario would one need to use PHPs magic function toString()

Question

Why would a programmer need to use the function? How would the same results have been achieved in php 4?

Almost the same as http://stackoverflow.com/questions/28098/php-tostring-equivalent — Tim Post, Mar 25 '10 at 17:59

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 25 '10 at 18:27

In any scenario where you want to control how an object behaves when used in a string context (used as a string), e.g.

class FullName
{
    protected $firstName;
    protected $middleNames = array();
    protected $lastName;

    // ... methods ...

    public function __toString()
    {
        return sprintf('%s %s %s', $this->firstName,
                                   implode(' ', $this->middleNames),
                                   $this->lastName);
    }
}

$fullname = new FullName('John', array('Jim', 'Jamie'), 'Jackson');
echo "Hello, my name is $fullname";

You cannot simulate this method in PHP4. In fact, you shouldn't even be using PHP4 anymore at all.

Wow neat, I learned something today! (p.s. sometimes we still don't have a choice but to use php4) — Rob, Mar 25 '10 at 18:37

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 09:57

0

Please see this question. If its available, its preferable to casting to achieve the same.

edited May 23 '17 at 09:57

Community

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answered Mar 25 '10 at 17:57

Tim Post

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In what scenario would one need to use PHPs magic function toString()

2 Answers2