Top PHP Interview Questions and Answers in 2025

Question: What is the difference between __get() and __set() methods in PHP?

Answer:

In PHP, __get() and __set() are magic methods that allow you to intercept access to properties of an object. These methods are part of PHP’s object-oriented programming and are used to handle cases where you want to manage how properties are read and written dynamically, especially when those properties are not directly accessible or do not exist.

• __get() is called when you try to read a property that is not directly accessible or does not exist.
• __set() is called when you try to assign a value to a property that is not directly accessible or does not exist.

Both methods are part of PHP’s overloading mechanism, allowing you to customize how properties are accessed or set at runtime.

1. __get() Method:

The __get() method is triggered when you attempt to access a property that is either non-existent or inaccessible (e.g., a private or protected property), but you want to handle the property access dynamically.

Syntax:

public function __get($name)

• $name: The name of the property being accessed.

Example:

class MyClass {
    private $data = ["name" => "John", "age" => 30];

    // Define __get() to handle dynamic property access
    public function __get($name) {
        if (array_key_exists($name, $this->data)) {
            return $this->data[$name];
        } else {
            return null;  // If the property doesn't exist, return null
        }
    }
}

$obj = new MyClass();
echo $obj->name;  // Outputs: John
echo $obj->age;   // Outputs: 30
echo $obj->address;  // Outputs: null

In this example, when we try to access the name or age properties of the object (which are not directly accessible), the __get() method is triggered and handles the request by returning the corresponding values from the $data array.

2. __set() Method:

The __set() method is triggered when you try to assign a value to a property that is either non-existent or inaccessible (e.g., a private or protected property), but you want to manage the assignment dynamically.

Syntax:

public function __set($name, $value)

• $name: The name of the property being written to.
• $value: The value being assigned to the property.

Example:

class MyClass {
    private $data = ["name" => "John", "age" => 30];

    // Define __set() to handle dynamic property assignment
    public function __set($name, $value) {
        if ($name == "name") {
            $this->data["name"] = strtoupper($value);  // Ensure the name is stored in uppercase
        } else {
            $this->data[$name] = $value;
        }
    }
}

$obj = new MyClass();
$obj->name = "Jane";  // Calls __set() to assign the value
$obj->age = 25;       // Calls __set() for a valid property

echo $obj->name;  // Outputs: JANE (name is automatically converted to uppercase)
echo $obj->age;   // Outputs: 25

In this example, when we try to set a value for the name property (which is not directly accessible), the __set() method is triggered. The method processes the value before assigning it to the $data array (in this case, converting the name to uppercase). If a valid property is set, it just stores the value.

Key Differences:

Feature	__get()	__set()
Purpose	Intercepts reading of inaccessible or non-existent properties.	Intercepts assignment to inaccessible or non-existent properties.
Parameters	Receives the property name to be accessed.	Receives the property name and the value to be assigned.
Return Value	Returns the value of the property.	Does not return anything; modifies the property dynamically.
Common Use Case	When you want to handle dynamic property access or when the property doesn’t exist.	When you want to handle dynamic property assignment or when the property doesn’t exist.

Example with Both Methods:

class MyClass {
    private $data = [];

    // Handle getting properties dynamically
    public function __get($name) {
        if (isset($this->data[$name])) {
            return $this->data[$name];
        } else {
            return "Property '$name' does not exist.";
        }
    }

    // Handle setting properties dynamically
    public function __set($name, $value) {
        $this->data[$name] = $value;
    }
}

$obj = new MyClass();
$obj->name = "Alice";  // Calls __set() to assign the value
echo $obj->name;  // Calls __get() to retrieve the value, outputs: Alice

$obj->age = 30;   // Calls __set() to assign the value
echo $obj->age;   // Calls __get() to retrieve the value, outputs: 30

echo $obj->address; // Outputs: Property 'address' does not exist.

In the example above:

• The __set() method is used when setting values for properties.
• The __get() method is used when retrieving values for properties.
• If the property doesn’t exist, both methods provide default behavior (returning a message or null).

Summary:

• __get() is invoked when trying to access a property that is not accessible or doesn’t exist.
• __set() is invoked when trying to assign a value to a property that is not accessible or doesn’t exist.

These magic methods allow you to implement dynamic property management in PHP, providing a flexible way to manage object properties.

Question: What are some popular PHP frameworks?

Answer:

PHP frameworks provide a structured environment to develop web applications, offering reusable components, libraries, and tools to speed up development, improve maintainability, and follow best practices like the MVC (Model-View-Controller) pattern.

Here are some of the most popular PHP frameworks:

1. Laravel

• Overview: Laravel is one of the most popular PHP frameworks, known for its elegant syntax, ease of use, and robust features. It follows the MVC architecture and includes built-in tools for routing, authentication, sessions, and caching.
• Key Features:
  • Eloquent ORM (Object-Relational Mapping)
  • Blade templating engine
  • Artisan command-line tool
  • Laravel Mix (for asset compilation)
  • Laravel Passport for API authentication
  • Built-in testing support (PHPUnit)
  • Queue management
  • Laravel Echo for real-time event broadcasting
• Use Cases: Web applications, RESTful APIs, content management systems (CMS), e-commerce platforms.

2. Symfony

• Overview: Symfony is a highly flexible, robust PHP framework that is used for building scalable and enterprise-level applications. It is widely used as a component in other frameworks (e.g., Laravel, Drupal) and is known for its stability and long-term support.
• Key Features:
  • Modular component-based architecture
  • Reusable components (e.g., HTTP, Router, Dependency Injection)
  • Symfony Console component for CLI tools
  • Twig templating engine
  • High customization and scalability
  • Robust documentation and community support
• Use Cases: Enterprise-level applications, microservices, APIs, large-scale systems.

3. CodeIgniter

• Overview: CodeIgniter is a lightweight and fast PHP framework, known for its small footprint and simple setup. It follows the MVC pattern and is particularly suitable for small-to-medium applications.
• Key Features:
  • Simple and easy to learn
  • Minimal configuration required
  • Small and lightweight footprint
  • Excellent documentation
  • Supports RESTful routing
  • Built-in security features (XSS filtering, SQL injection protection)
• Use Cases: Small-to-medium web applications, CRUD-based applications, rapid development projects.

4. Yii2

• Overview: Yii2 is a high-performance PHP framework that is fast, secure, and component-based. It’s designed to handle large-scale applications with ease.
• Key Features:
  • Gii code generator for rapid scaffolding
  • Built-in user authentication, authorization, and role-based access control
  • ActiveRecord ORM for easy database interaction
  • RESTful API support
  • Query builder and database migration
  • Caching support
  • Good documentation and community
• Use Cases: Large-scale applications, enterprise applications, e-commerce platforms, APIs.

5. Zend Framework (Laminas)

• Overview: Zend Framework, now renamed Laminas, is a powerful PHP framework that is well-suited for enterprise-level applications. It is designed for developers who want flexibility and control over their applications.
• Key Features:
  • Full MVC support
  • Extensible component-based architecture
  • Focus on performance and scalability
  • Built-in support for database operations, form handling, validation, and more
  • Highly customizable
  • Supports RESTful API development
• Use Cases: Enterprise applications, large-scale custom applications, microservices, APIs.

6. Phalcon

• Overview: Phalcon is a PHP framework that is built as a C extension for PHP, making it one of the fastest frameworks. It offers low-level optimizations and high performance.
• Key Features:
  • Extremely fast due to its C-extension base
  • Full MVC support
  • ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) for database interactions
  • Flash-based session and caching support
  • Form handling, validation, and security components
  • Built-in RESTful API support
• Use Cases: High-performance applications, real-time systems, web applications requiring speed.

7. Slim

• Overview: Slim is a micro-framework for PHP that is ideal for building simple web applications and APIs. It is lightweight and focused on simplicity, making it perfect for small projects.
• Key Features:
  • Fast and simple to use
  • Supports routing, middleware, and HTTP requests
  • Can be extended with external libraries
  • Great for building RESTful APIs
  • Slim 4 supports PSR-7 (HTTP message interface)
• Use Cases: Microservices, RESTful APIs, small applications.

8. FuelPHP

• Overview: FuelPHP is a full-stack PHP framework that supports HMVC (Hierarchical Model-View-Controller) and is designed to be fast, secure, and flexible.
• Key Features:
  • Full MVC and HMVC architecture
  • Built-in authentication and authorization
  • RESTful routing support
  • Simple, clean syntax
  • Caching, form validation, and security features
• Use Cases: Web applications, content management systems, APIs.

9. CakePHP

• Overview: CakePHP is a mature PHP framework that emphasizes convention over configuration. It offers fast development with minimal configuration and comes with built-in tools for managing common tasks like database interactions, authentication, and form handling.
• Key Features:
  • Built-in ORM and database access
  • Easy-to-use CRUD functionality
  • Authentication and authorization support
  • Bake command-line tool for rapid scaffolding
  • Built-in validation and security features
  • Active community and strong documentation
• Use Cases: Content management systems, CRUD-based applications, business applications.

10. Phalcon

• Overview: Phalcon is a high-performance PHP framework built as a C extension. It is known for its speed and ability to handle high-traffic websites.
• Key Features:
  • C-based extension, making it extremely fast
  • Supports MVC, ORM, and full-stack development
  • Can be used for both web apps and APIs
  • Easy-to-use query builder
  • Supports caching, events, and session management
• Use Cases: High-performance applications, real-time applications, APIs, content-heavy websites.

Conclusion:

• Laravel and Symfony are widely recognized for large, complex applications.
• CodeIgniter and Slim are perfect for smaller, simpler projects where performance is a key concern.
• Yii2 and Zend/Laminas are known for scalability, making them suitable for enterprise-level applications.
• Phalcon is focused on speed and performance for high-traffic applications.

Choosing the right PHP framework depends on the project requirements, including the size of the application, performance needs, and developer experience with the framework.

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