A static reflection library for PHP that analyzes code structure and DocBlocks without executing it.
phpDocumentor/Reflection is a static reflection library for PHP that analyzes code structure and DocBlocks without executing the code. It creates an object graph representing an application's classes, traits, interfaces, namespaces, and documentation, similar to PHP's built-in reflection but with enhanced safety and efficiency. It solves the problem of needing to inspect code for documentation generation or static analysis without the risks of dynamic reflection.
PHP developers building documentation generators, static analysis tools, or code inspection utilities that require safe reflection of PHP codebases.
Developers choose this library because it provides static reflection that doesn't execute code, supports multiple PHP versions, and offers project-wide analysis with full DocBlock interpretation, making it more reliable and memory-efficient than PHP's native dynamic reflection.
Reflection library to do Static Analysis for PHP Projects
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Avoids executing procedural code during reflection, preventing side effects and using less memory than dynamic reflection, as emphasized in the README's comparison.
Analyzes code from PHP 5.2 up to the installed version, making it versatile for legacy and modern codebases, per the README's feature list.
Can reflect individual files or entire projects by processing multiple files, enabling comprehensive code structure analysis without execution.
Parses and interprets DocBlock contents beyond mere presence, crucial for documentation generators, as highlighted in the key features.
Cannot handle code that relies on runtime evaluation or dynamic behavior, limiting use in applications needing live introspection like dependency injection.
Relies on external parsers like PHP-Parser, which may introduce version conflicts or require additional configuration, adding setup complexity.
For basic reflection tasks, static analysis can be slower and more resource-intensive than PHP's native dynamic reflection due to full parsing.