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[RESOLVED] Need to know

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Nov 04.2008

Hello All,

This is not a problem but a couple of questions regarding info that is hard for me to find and define (With examples/Tutorials).

Q1: What is the purpose of the underscore as the first character in the function name? Example: function _functionName()

Q2: Same as Q1 but its the double underscore? Example: __functionName()

I saw a post the other day that had Q1 in the code and wanted to know the use/benefits/features this might have (If any) and some documentation on them.

Thanks

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PHP

4 Comments(s) ↴

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@SodbusterNov 04.2008 — The double underscore is reserved by php. The manual says (here):PHP reserves all function names starting with __ as magical. It is recommended that you do not use function names with __ in PHP unless you want some documented magic functionality.[/QUOTE]The single underscore is usually used to denote private methods in a class.
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@Phill_PaffordauthorNov 04.2008 — Thanks,

Just to clarify the single underscore is just a Naming convention used to identify a private methods in a class or is this something PHP enforces?

So by using the single underscore it would ensure the private methods in a class? is this correct?

Thanks for your fast reply.

I understand the double underscore and have looked at the docs on that (Funny it was hard to find when Googling it)
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@SodbusterNov 04.2008 — Use of the single underscore is merely by convention (or even willy-nilly by some). It's only informative, you might say.

The page on overloading in the manual gives more information relevant to double underscore prefixed methods.
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@Phill_PaffordauthorNov 04.2008 — Thanks big help for me :-)
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