PHP forward_static_call vs call_user_func

Question

What is the difference between forward_static_call and call_user_func

And the same question applies to forward_static_call_array a

Answer 1

The difference is just that forward_static_call does not reset the "called class" information if going up the class hierarchy and explicitly naming a class, whereas call_user_func resets the information in those circumstances (but still does not reset it if using parent, static or self).

Example:

Note that forward_static_call refuses to forward if going down the class hierarchy:

Finally, note that forward_static_call can only be called from within a class method.