Type hinting

Syntax

• function f(ClassName $param) {}
• function f(bool $param) {}
• function f(int $param) {}
• function f(float $param) {}
• function f(string $param) {}
• function f(self $param) {}
• function f(callable $param) {}
• function f(array $param) {}
• function f(?type_name $param) {}
• function f() : type_name {}
• function f() : void {}
• function f() : ?type_name {}

Remarks

Type hinting or type declarations are a defensive programming practice that ensures a function’s parameters are of a specified type. This is particularly useful when type hinting for an interface because it allows the function to guarantee that a provided parameter will have the same methods as are required in the interface.

Passing the incorrect type to a type hinted function will lead to a fatal error:

Fatal error: Uncaught TypeError: Argument X passed to foo() must be of the type RequiredType, ProvidedType given