__invoke() Method And Properties

<?php

class x {
    private X $y;
    
    function __invoke() { echo __METHOD__;}
    
    function foo() {
        $this->y = new X;
        $this->y();
        // better this way
        ($this->y)();
    }
}

(new X)->foo();

In the code here, the __invoke() makes the class X invokable : the object may be used as a function name and it will call the magic method __invoke.

Then, in the same class, there is a property $y, with the type of X. That property is, hence, holding an invokable object. So, may be, it is possible to call this property as a method, and invoke it?

Well, no. This call will yield an error, undefined method y. PHP doesn’t use the __invoke() here, as it would conflict with an existing y method. Also, that would make a case-sensitive method, as the property $Y doesn’t exists.

To invoke the object in the property y, one has to put parenthesis around the object, so that PHP can extract the object and then, invoke it safely.

See Also

• Calling an invokable in an instance variable
• __invoke and properties [Try me]

PHP Features

• __invoke
• property
• magic-method

Last updated: 10 September 2026