How to get current function name in PHP?

In PHP, you can get the current function name using magic constants like __FUNCTION__ and __METHOD__. These constants provide different levels of information about the executing function or method.

Using __FUNCTION__ Magic Constant

The __FUNCTION__ constant returns only the function name without class information ?

<?php
class Base {
    function display() {
        echo "\nBase class function declared final!";
        var_dump(__FUNCTION__);
    }
    function demo() {
        echo "\nBase class function!";
    }
}
class Derived extends Base {
    function demo() {
        echo "\nDerived class function!";
    }
}
$ob = new Base;
$ob->demo();
$ob->display();
$ob2 = new Derived;
$ob2->demo();
$ob2->display();
?>

Base class function!
Base class function declared final!string(7) "display"
Derived class function!
Base class function declared final!string(7) "display"

Using __METHOD__ Magic Constant

The __METHOD__ constant returns both class name and method name in the format ClassName::methodName ?

<?php
class Base {
    function display() {
        echo "\nBase class function declared final!";
        var_dump(__FUNCTION__);
    }
    function demo() {
        echo "\nBase class function!";
        var_dump(__METHOD__);
    }
}
class Derived extends Base {
    function demo() {
        echo "\nDerived class function!";
    }
}
$ob = new Base;
$ob->demo();
$ob->display();
$ob2 = new Derived;
$ob2->demo();
$ob2->display();
?>

Base class function!string(10) "Base::demo"
Base class function declared final!string(7) "display"
Derived class function!
Base class function declared final!string(7) "display"

Simple Function Example

For standalone functions (not in classes), both constants work similarly ?

<?php
function myFunction() {
    echo "Function name: " . __FUNCTION__ . "<br>";
    echo "Method name: " . __METHOD__ . "<br>";
}

myFunction();
?>

Function name: myFunction
Method name: myFunction

Comparison

Conclusion

Use __FUNCTION__ for simple function names and __METHOD__ when you need class context. Both constants are compile-time constants that provide valuable debugging and logging information.