#[Override] Attribute (PHP 8.3)

Also Known As

TL;DR

Explanation

In PHP before 8.3, you could write a method with the same name as a parent method and it would silently override it — or silently not override it if you misspelled the name. The #[Override] attribute makes the override intent explicit. When PHP loads a class with #[Override] on a method, it verifies that the method actually exists in a parent class or interface. If it doesn't — due to a rename, typo, or removed method — PHP throws an error immediately. This catches a class of silent bugs where a 'override' method is never called because it doesn't match the parent's signature.

Common Misconception

Why It Matters

Common Mistakes

• Not adding #[Override] to all override methods — it only helps if you use it consistently; adding it only sometimes gives false confidence.
• Confusing #[Override] with final — final prevents further overriding; #[Override] asserts that this method overrides something.
• Using #[Override] on methods that implement interface methods — this is valid and encouraged; interface method implementations count as overrides.
• Expecting #[Override] to validate signature compatibility — it only checks name existence, not parameter types or return types. Use PHPStan or Psalm for full signature checking.

Code Examples

<?php
// ❌ Typo in override — silently creates a new method, parent's validate() runs
class UserValidator extends BaseValidator
{
    public function validae(mixed $data): bool // typo: validae not validate
    {
        return is_array($data) && isset($data['email']);
    }
    // BaseValidator::validate() still runs — this method is never called
}

<?php
// ✅ PHP 8.3 — #[Override] catches the typo at class load time
class UserValidator extends BaseValidator
{
    #[Override]
    public function validate(mixed $data): bool // PHP errors if validate() not in parent
    {
        return is_array($data) && isset($data['email']);
    }
}

// Also works with interface methods
class JsonRenderer implements RendererInterface
{
    #[Override]
    public function render(array $data): string
    {
        return json_encode($data, JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR);
    }
}

References

• ↗ https://www.php.net/releases/8.3/en.php
• ↗ https://wiki.php.net/rfc/override_attribute

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