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.