Dynamically create PHP class functions

Question

I\'d like to iterate over an array and dynamically create functions based on each item. My pseudocode:

$array = array(\'one\', \'two\', \'three\');

foreach          


        

Answer 1

Not sure about the usage in your case, you can use create_function to create anonymous functions.

Answer 2

Instead of "creating" functions, you can use the magic method __call(), so that when you call a "non-existent" function, you can handle it and do the right action.

Something like this:

class MyClass{
    private $array = array('one', 'two', 'three');

    function __call($func, $params){
        if(in_array($func, $this->array)){
            return 'Test'.$func;
        }
    }
}

Then you can call:

$a = new MyClass;
$a->one(); // Testone
$a->four(); // null

DEMO: http://ideone.com/73mSh

EDIT: If you are using PHP 5.3+, you actually can do what you are trying to do in your question!

class MyClass{
    private $array = array('one', 'two', 'three');

    function __construct(){
        foreach ($this->array as $item) {
            $this->$item = function() use($item){
                return 'Test'.$item;
            };
        }
    }
}

This does work, except that you can't call $a->one() directly, you need to save it as a variable.

$a = new MyClass;
$x = $a->one;
$x() // Testone

DEMO: http://codepad.viper-7.com/ayGsTu

Answer 3

class MethodTest
{
    private $_methods = array();

    public function __call($name, $arguments)
    {
        if (array_key_exists($name, $this->_methods)) {
            $this->_methods[$name]($arguments);
        }
        else
        {
            $this->_methods[$name] = $arguments[0];
        }
    }
}

$obj = new MethodTest;

$array = array('one', 'two', 'three');

foreach ($array as $item) 
{
    // Dynamic creation
    $obj->$item((function ($a){ echo "Test: ".$a[0]."\n"; }));
    // Calling
    $obj->$item($item);
}

The above example will output:

Test: one
Test: two
Test: three