PHP Anonymous Function

Description

PHP anonymous functions have no name.

Why

You might want to create anonymous functions for two reasons:

• To create functions dynamically
• To create short-term, disposable functions

Syntax

To create an anonymous function, you use separated list of parameters if any, and the code for the function body.

Example

Here's an example that creates an anonymous function dynamically based on the value of a variable:

<?PHP//from w  ww .  j a  v a 2s  .co  m
        $mode = "+"; 
        $processNumbers = create_function( '$a, $b', "return \$a $mode \$b;" ); 
        echo $processNumbers( 2, 3 ); // Displays "5"   
?>

The code above generates the following result.

This code uses the value of the $mode variable as the operator used to process its two arguments, $a and $b. For example, if you change $mode to "*", the code displays "6".