PHP Function Naming Rules and Call Frequency Explained

M66 2025-07-13

PHP Function Naming Rules

In PHP, function names must adhere to specific naming rules to ensure readability and consistency in the code:

Function names must start with a letter or an underscore
Function names can only contain letters, numbers, and underscores
Function names are case-sensitive

PHP Function Call Frequency

In PHP, it is impossible to pre-determine the exact number of times a function will be called. The frequency of function calls depends on the program’s execution flow and how the function is used. Each time a function is executed, the call count increases, but this entirely depends on how the developer designs and uses the function in their code.

PHP Practical Example

Here is a simple PHP function example that demonstrates how functions are defined and called:

<?php
// Define function
function add_numbers($num1, $num2) {
  return $num1 + $num2;
}
 
// Call function
$sum = add_numbers(10, 20);
 
// Output result
echo $sum; // Output: 30

In this example, the add_numbers function is called once and returns the result 30.

Conclusion

This article discussed the PHP function naming rules and the frequency of function calls. By following these rules, developers can write more standardized and maintainable PHP code. We hope this article helps you understand PHP function naming and call frequency.