How to alias a function in PHP?

Question

Is it possible to alias a function with a different name in PHP? Suppose we have a function with the name sleep. Is there a way to make an alias called wa

Answer 1

If your PHP doesn't support use x as y syntax, in older PHP version you can define anonymous function:

$wait = create_function('$seconds', 'sleep($seconds);');
$wait(1);

Or place the code inside the constant, e.g.:

define('wait', 'sleep(1);');
eval(wait);

See also: What can I use instead of eval()?

This is especially useful if you've long piece of code, and you don't want to repeat it or the code is not useful for a new function either.

---

There is also function posted by Dave H which is very useful for creating an alias of a user function:

function create_function_alias($function_name, $alias_name) 
{ 
    if(function_exists($alias_name)) 
        return false; 
    $rf = new ReflectionFunction($function_name); 
    $fproto = $alias_name.'('; 
    $fcall = $function_name.'('; 
    $need_comma = false; 

    foreach($rf->getParameters() as $param) 
    { 
        if($need_comma) 
        { 
            $fproto .= ','; 
            $fcall .= ','; 
        } 

        $fproto .= '$'.$param->getName(); 
        $fcall .= '$'.$param->getName(); 

        if($param->isOptional() && $param->isDefaultValueAvailable()) 
        { 
            $val = $param->getDefaultValue(); 
            if(is_string($val)) 
                $val = "'$val'"; 
            $fproto .= ' = '.$val; 
        } 
        $need_comma = true; 
    } 
    $fproto .= ')'; 
    $fcall .= ')'; 

    $f = "function $fproto".PHP_EOL; 
    $f .= '{return '.$fcall.';}'; 

    eval($f); 
    return true; 
}

Answer 2

nope. the way you wrote is the best way to do it.

Answer 3

What I have used in my CLASS

function __call($name, $args) {
    $alias['execute']=array('done','finish');
    $alias['query']=array('prepare','do');
    if (in_array($name,$alias['execute'])){
        call_user_func_array("execute",$args);
        return TRUE;
    }elseif(in_array($name,$alias['query'])){
        call_user_func_array("query",$args);
        return TRUE;
    }
    die($this->_errors.' Invalid method:'.$name.PHP_EOL);
}