reflection - php create class method at runtime

Question

I am wondering if there is a way to attach a new method to a class at runtime, in php. I mean, not on an instance level but directly to the class, so that all newly created instances, have this new method. Can such a thing be done with reflection?

Thanks

Answer 1

Yes, you can.

Below is the way to create method in runtime in php 5.4.x.

The anonymous function is represented by Closure class started from 5.3.x. From 5.4.x, it add a Closure::bind static method to bind the anonymous function to a particular object or class.

Example:

class Foo {
     private $methods = array();

     public function addBar() {
       $barFunc = function () {
         var_dump($this->methods);
       };
       $this->methods['bar'] = Closure::bind($barFunc, $this, get_class());
     }

     function __call($method, $args) {
          if(is_callable($this->methods[$method]))
          {
            return call_user_func_array($this->methods[$method], $args);
          }
     }
 }

 $foo = new Foo;
 $foo->addBar();
 $foo->bar();