Using ReflectionMethod::invoke in a context when original object is not in scope

Question

I'm trying to do something like this:

class A {
   public function foo() {
      $b = new B;
      $b->invokeMethodFromAnotherObject(new ReflectionMethod($this, 'bar'));
   }
   public function bar() {

   }
}

class B {
   public function invokeMethodFromAnotherObject(ReflectionMethod $method) {
        $method->invoke(?);
   }
}

But there's no apparent way to "suck" $this back out of the reflection method, and I don't have a reference to the object in question. Is there a way I could do this without passing $this into B::invokeMethodFromAnotherObject?

Could you say why you have to avoid passing $this to the method? — Ignas R
– Ignas R, Commented Nov 15, 2009 at 18:19
It just strikes me as unnecessary and it kind of "pollutes" the method signature. If I'm already using $this to create my ReflectionMethod, then I would think that ReflectionMethod would have a handle on that object. Obviously it doesn't for whatever reason. — blockhead
– blockhead, Commented Nov 15, 2009 at 19:03

user187291 · Accepted Answer · 2009-11-15 20:37:08Z

1

Reflection methods have no clue about objects. Even if you pass $this to the "new ReflectionMethod", the resulting object only stores a class reference. What you want here is actually a closure (php 5.3) or the good old array($this, 'bar') + call_user_func in the callback.

class A {
  function foo() {
    $b = new B;
    $that = $this;
    $b->invoke(function() use($that) { $that->bar(); });
 }

 function bar() {
     echo "hi";
 }
}

class B {
 function invoke($func) {
   $func();
 }
}

$a = new A;
$a->foo();

edited Nov 15, 2009 at 20:37

answered Nov 15, 2009 at 18:27

user187291

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3 Comments

blockhead Over a year ago

What I meant was passing $this as a parameter of B::invokeMethodFromAnotherObject and then doing $method->invoke($object, 'bar'). This works, but it strikes me that ThereMustBeABetterWay. When you mentioned using a Closure, what exactly did you have in mind?

blockhead Over a year ago

I know what a closure is, I'm just not sure exactly how exactly you're suggesting to implement it to solve my particular problem. If you could post an example so that I could understand that would be good.

blockhead Over a year ago

I see what you mean, but in my particular instance I need to be working off of ReflectionMethod. I'm doing things in the other class like reading off the parameters for the action and invoking them with filled in values.

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