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Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 20:36:45 -0400
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Subject: is_a() vs. instanceof
From: hans@velum.net (Hans Lellelid)

I like the new $obj instanceof ClassName way of checking class / 
interface types, .... but this method does have one major drawback 
compared to the old is_a() approach:

    The class must be loaded in order to perform an instanceof check!

Apparently is_a() has also been deprecated,  so that an E_STRICT error 
is thrown.  This means that to check types of classes and remain 
E_STRICT compliant I have to load & parse every class.  It's not hard to 
imagine situations (and experience has shown this to be the case) where 
this limitation can lead to a lot of extra file i/o and parsing -- and 
also E_WARNING if the file couldn't be included, etc.

Is is possible to have instanceof not require the class to be loaded?  
or perhaps just have is_a() not trigger an E_STRICT error?

Thanks,
Hans