Is it allowed to call non-static methods with call_user_func?

Question

When I use call_user_func on a non-static method in PHP 5.2 I get a Strict Warning:

Strict Standards: Non-static method User::register() cannot be called statically

But on PHP 5.3.1 I don't get this warning. Is this a bug in PHP 5.3.1 or is the warning removed?

You'll get the same warning on PHP5.3. Looks like your php5.3 and php5.2 configuration are different. Have a look at error_reporting. — vooD
– vooD, Commented Apr 14, 2010 at 19:35

Community · Accepted Answer · 2023-11-17 19:42:58Z

31

It is perfectly OK -- but note that you have to pass an object that's an instance of your class, to indicate on which object the non-static method shall be called :

class MyClass {
    public function hello() {
        echo "Hello, World!";
    }
}

$a = new MyClass();
call_user_func(array($a, 'hello'));

You should not use something like this :

call_user_func('MyClass::hello');

Which will give you the following warning :

Strict standards: `call_user_func()` expects parameter 1 to be a valid callback,
non-static method `MyClass::hello()` should not be called statically

(This would work perfectly fine if the method was declared as static... but it's not, here)

For more informations, you can take a look at the [**callback**][1] section of the manual, which states, amongst other things *(quoting)* :

A method of an instantiated object is passed as an array containing an object at index 0 and the method name at index 1.

If you get a strict error with an old version of PHP (e.g. 5.2), it's probably a matter of configuration -- I'm thinking about the [**`error_reporting`**][2] directive.

Note that E_ALL includes E_STRICT from PHP 5.4.0 (quoting) :

edited Nov 17, 2023 at 19:42

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answered Apr 14, 2010 at 19:31

Pascal MARTIN

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5 Comments

sandelius Over a year ago

E_STRICT is supposed to be included in E_ALL in PHP 5.3 I think. Btw thank you, I instantiated the object and then it works just fine.

Pascal MARTIN Over a year ago

OK about instanciating the object :-) ;;; I don't think E_STRICT is included in E_ALL, even in PHP 5.3 -- I suppose it would be said so in the manual ;-)

Scott Arciszewski Over a year ago

E_ALL does include E_STRICT in 5.5 for sure.

VDarricau Over a year ago

Note that if the method is in the same class you can use call_user_func(array($this, 'hello')); such as explained here

Alexey Over a year ago

one-liner call_user_func( [ ( new MyClass() ), 'hello' ] );

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