What is the difference between is_a and instanceof?

Question

I am aware that instanceof is an operator and that is_a is a method.

Is the method slower in performance? What would you prefer to use?

Answer 1

I can't speak for performance -- I haven't measured anything yet -- but depending on what you are attempting, there are limitations with instanceof. Check out my question, just recently, about it:

PHP 'instanceof' failing with class constant

I've ended up using is_a instead. I like the structure of instanceof better (I think it reads nicer) and will continue to use it where I can.