__construct() vs SameAsClassName() for constructor in PHP

Question

Is there any advantage to using __construct() instead of the class\'s name for a constructor in PHP?

Example (__construct):

Answer 1

Well it has been a few years since this question was asked, but I think I have to answer this one still, because things has changed and for readers in the future I want to keep the information up to date!

So in php-7 they will remove the option to create the constructor as a function with the same name as the class. If you still do it you will get a E_DEPRECATED.

You can read more about this proposal (the proposal is accepted) here: https://wiki.php.net/rfc/remove_php4_constructors

And a quote from there:

PHP 7 will emit E_DEPRECATED whenever a PHP 4 constructor is defined. When the method name matches the class name, the class is not in a namespace, and a PHP 5 constructor (__construct) is not present then an E_DEPRECATED will be emitted. PHP 8 will stop emitting E_DEPRECATED and the methods will not be recognized as constructors.

Also you won't get a E_STRICT in php-7 if you define a method with the same name as the class AND a __construct().

You can see this also here:

PHP 7 will also stop emitting E_STRICT when a method with the same name as the class is present as well as __construct.

So I would recommend you to use __construct(), since you will have less issues with this in the future.