What is Anonymous Function in PHP ?
Last Updated :
13 Feb, 2024
Anonymous Function, also known as closures, are functions in PHP that do not have a specific name and can be defined inline wherever they are needed. They are useful for situations where a small, one-time function is required, such as callbacks for array functions, event handling, or arguments to other functions.
Syntax:
$anonymousFunction = function($arg1, $arg2, ...) {
// Function body
};
Important Points
- Anonymous functions are declared using the
function
keyword followed by the list of parameters and the function body.
- They can capture variables from the surrounding scope using the
use
keyword.
- Anonymous functions can be assigned to variables, passed as arguments to other functions, or returned from other functions.
Usage
- Inline Definition: Anonymous functions can be defined directly within the code, eliminating the need for named function declarations.
- Flexibility: They can be used as callbacks or event handlers where a small, reusable function is required.
- Closure Scope: Anonymous functions can access variables from the enclosing scope using the
use
keyword, allowing for the encapsulation of data.
Example:
// Define and use an anonymous function
$sum = function($a, $b) {
return $a + $b;
};
// Output: 5
echo $sum(2, 3);
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