Are PHP functions objects?

Question

Is there a built-in class function which instances are the standard PHP functions? Are PHP functions objects?

In Python I can test it in this way:

from inspect import isclass
def foo():
    pass
isclass(type(foo))
>>> True

What about this function in PHP:

function foo(){
    return null;
}

User defined functions such as your foo example are not a class in PHP, but a language construct. Pretty much like if or interface. As Carlos pointed out, PHP automatically transforms a function assigned to a variable into an instance of the class Closure. — hasumedic
– hasumedic, Commented Feb 26, 2016 at 11:04

CarlosCarucce · Accepted Answer · 2022-07-18 17:08:50Z

6

Anonymous functions are objects of "Closure" class. Here is the test:

$myfunction = function(){
    echo "Hi";
};

if(is_object($myfunction)){
    echo get_class($myfunction); //prints 'Closure'
}

answered Feb 25, 2016 at 17:58

CarlosCarucce

3,6093 gold badges31 silver badges56 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Answer 1