Question 1

How does PHP defer handle exceptions in cleanup code?

Accepted Answer

PHP Defer ensures deferred callbacks execute even if an exception is thrown within the function, as shown in the example where 'after exception' is printed before the catch block, guaranteeing cleanup.

Question 2

PHP defer or try-finally: which is better for resource management?

Accepted Answer

PHP Defer centralizes multiple cleanup actions in LIFO order and reduces boilerplate, while try-finally is native but can get verbose. Use defer for Golang-like patterns or complex cleanup chains; try-finally for simpler, single-scope cases.

Question 3

How to use defer to automatically close a database connection in PHP?

Accepted Answer

Register a defer callback within your function that calls the connection close method, ensuring it runs after function exit, even on errors. For example: defer($_, function() use ($conn) { $conn->close(); });

Question 4

Can I use php-defer in class methods or only in functions?

Accepted Answer

Defer works within any function or method scope, but it's limited to that scope; for persistent class-level cleanup, you might need to combine it with destructors or other OOP patterns.

Question 5

What's the performance cost of using php-defer in a loop?

Accepted Answer

There's minor overhead from registering and executing callbacks, which could accumulate in tight loops. For high-performance scenarios, benchmark against native alternatives like manual cleanup or try-finally.

Question 6

Is php-defer compatible with PHP 8.1 or newer versions?

Accepted Answer

The library officially supports PHP up to 8.0 per the README; for newer versions, check the GitHub repository for updates, as it might not leverage latest PHP features like attributes or enums.

PHP Defer

What is PHP Defer?

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