Why Use Backslashes Before Function Names in PHP?

Namespace Usage in Function Names

Question: What is the significance of a backslash () preceding function names in PHP?

Explanation:

In PHP, a backslash () serves as the namespace separator. When placed before a function name, it denotes that the function is a member of the Global Namespace. This ensures that the function call always refers to the global definition, even if there exists a local definition with the same name.

In the provided example from CSRF4PHP:

• FALSE references the global constant FALSE.
• session_id calls the session_id function from the global namespace.
• Exception throws an exception of the Exception class from the global namespace.

By prefixing these functions with a backslash, the programmer guarantees that the code uses the intended global implementations. This helps prevent naming conflicts and ensures consistent behavior across different scopes.

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