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OOP · hard

45. Serialization & Magic Methods

Customizing object behavior.

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PHP objects support magic methods like __get/__set (property overloading), __call/__callStatic (method overloading), __toString (string conversion), and __invoke (calling an object like a function). __serialize()/__unserialize() (PHP 7.4+) let a class control how it is converted to/from PHP's native serialization format.

Overusing magic methods can hurt readability and IDE tooling, so they're best reserved for well-justified cases like ORMs, proxies, or fluent builders rather than routine property access.

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Check your understanding

  1. 1. Which magic method controls how an object is printed as a string?

  2. 2. Which magic method allows an object instance to be called like a function?

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