Type Is Not Always Returned

<?php

class x implements y {
    function foo(): bool {
        throw new exception('Ah!');
    }
}

interface y {
    function foo(): bool;
}

?>

A method can display a return type, and never return it actually. This happens with exceptions, errors, yield and infinite loops. May be ‘never’ would be a better choice, if possible.

On the other hand, a function returning ‘void’, aka returning nothing, should not have any return statement, including the hidden one at the end of the method.

See Also

• Type Declaration (PHP manual)
• Typed in interface, not available [Try me]

PHP Features

• type
• return-type
• never

Last updated: 10 September 2026