Closure On Constructor

<?php

class x {
    public $p = 3;
    
    function __construct() {
        $this->p = 4;    
    }
}

//Cannot create Closure for new expression
//$c = new X(...);

$x = new x();
echo $x->p;
$x->p = 5;
echo $x->p;
$f = $x->__construct(...);

$f();
echo $x->p;

PHP 8.1 introduced first class callable, a syntax to build a closure by using the ellipsis operator ... as argument. This works on all sorts of calls, methods, closure, functions.

The only call where it doesn’t work is the instantiation: PHP generates an error from that syntax.

On the other hand, it is possible to create a closure on the constructor method, like any other method. And there, it just calls again the constructor, on the object that was already created.

See Also

• Calling the constructor [Try me]

PHP Error Messages

• Cannot create Closure for new expression

PHP Features

• constructor
• first-class-callable
• method

Last updated: 10 September 2026