functionlike

Functionlike can be defined as any value that can be invoked as a function. This includes named functions, anonymous functions (closures), and methods treated as callables, as well as objects that implement a special invocation capability (such as an __invoke method in PHP). The term is commonly used in static analysis and type systems to describe a broad class of values that can be called, stored in variables, passed as arguments, and returned from other functions.

In PHP and related tooling, functionlike encompasses various forms of callables: strings naming a function, arrays in the form of [object, 'method'] or [class, 'staticMethod'], closures, and objects implementing __invoke. The runtime enforces that the value is invocable, while static analysis aims to model the functionlike’s signature (parameter types and return type) for error checking and refactoring.

Examples illustrate the concept: a function can be assigned to a variable and invoked via that variable; a closure can be passed as a callback; a method reference can be supplied as a parameter; and an object with __invoke can be called as if it were a function. Static analyzers may distinguish between general functionlike values and strict callables, inferring or requiring compatible signatures.

Beyond PHP, functionlike ideas appear in many languages as function types, callables, or invokable interfaces, enabling higher-order programming patterns such as callbacks, events, and functional composition. Limitations include language-specific semantics, arity variations, and potential runtime errors if a value claimed to be functionlike is not actually invocable at call time.