What is PHP Opcode Cache and why is it important? Opcode Cache stores compiled PHP code in memory, reducing overhead by skipping recompilation on subsequent requests.
Explain the role of APC (Alternative PHP Cache) in PHP performance optimization. APC caches PHP opcode and user data, improving performance by reducing disk I/O and minimizing CPU usage for code execution.
Describe how PHP garbage collection works and its impact on memory management. PHP garbage collection automatically deallocates memory occupied by unused objects, preventing memory leaks and optimizing resource usage.
What are Traits in PHP, and how do they enhance code reuse and maintainability? Traits enable horizontal code reuse by providing reusable code blocks for classes, enhancing maintainability without introducing multiple inheritance conflicts.
Explain the use of PHP’s final keyword in classes and methods. The final keyword restricts inheritance, preventing classes or methods from being overridden, ensuring the integrity of specific functionalities.
Describe the purpose of PHP’s __invoke magic method. __invoke allows objects to be invoked as functions, providing flexibility in object-oriented programming by treating objects as callable entities.
What is the SPL (Standard PHP Library), and how does it enhance PHP’s functionality? SPL provides a collection of interfaces and classes to solve common problems, such as data structures, iterators, and file handling, enhancing PHP’s capabilities.
Explain the difference between == and === in PHP for comparison. == checks for value equality with type coercion, while === checks for value and type equality without coercion, ensuring strict comparison.
Describe how PHP sessions work and potential security considerations. Sessions enable data persistence across HTTP requests, stored server-side or client-side as cookies, requiring measures like session ID protection to prevent security risks.
Explain PHP’s anonymous classes and their practical use cases. Anonymous classes allow on-the-fly class definition without naming, suitable for one-time use cases like callbacks, event handling, or implementing interfaces inline.