__call() Method

__call() is a magic method : it is called when a method cannot be accessed, either because it doesn’t exist, or because its visibility prevents it.

That way, it is possible to create dynamically methods, without hardcoding them.

The __call() method receives the name of the target-method, and a list of argument, as an array.

The __call() method has a related version for static methods, called __callStatic.

<?php

class x {
     private $values = ['a' => 1,
                                        'b' => 2,
                                        ];

     // Checks the dictionary, or return 0
     function __call($name, $args) {
             if (method_exists($this, $name)) {
                     return $this->$name(...$args);
             }

             return 0;
     }
}

?>

Documentation

See also PHP _call (Lesson 3: PHP Magic Methods)

Related : __callStatic() Method, Magic Methods, Method