Differences in scope resolution and callbacks in PHP 5.3

Question

Working on some code today, I found that the following would work in 5.3, but not earlier.

<?php

class Test{
    public function uasort(){
        $array = array( 'foo' => 'bar', 123 => 456 );
        uasort( $array, 'self::uasort_callback' );

        return $array;
    }

    static private function uasort_callback( $a, $b ){
        return 1;
    }
}

$Test = new Test;
var_dump( $Test->uasort() );

// version 5.3.2  - works fine
// version 5.2.13 - Fatal error: Cannot call method self::uasort_callback() or method does not exist

Just curious as to what this feature is called, and whether its considered good, bad, (or sloppy) practice, since changing it to

uasort( $array, 'Test::uasort_callback' );

works fine in 5.2 as well.

mickmackusa · Accepted Answer · 2021-07-23 05:32:18Z

2

Judging by the section on callbacks in the PHP manual, I'd say its called a "relative static class method call". See ~~http://php.net/manual/en/language.pseudo-types.php~~(dead link)

// Type 4: Static class method call (As of PHP 5.2.3)
call_user_func('MyClass::myCallbackMethod');

// Type 5: Relative static class method call (As of PHP 5.3.0)
class A {
    public static function who() {
        echo "A\n";
    }
}

class B extends A {
    public static function who() {
        echo "B\n";
    }
}

call_user_func(array('B', 'parent::who')); // A

Slightly different scenario, but I think the ability to call parent::who or self::uasort_callback are one in the same.

edited Jul 23, 2021 at 5:32

mickmackusa♦

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answered Feb 14, 2011 at 23:44

simshaun

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