get_object_vars() vs. cast to array

Question

Are there any differences between get_object_vars($obj) and (array) $obj ?

Both seem to return the public properties of the object.

Which is better?

Answer 1

This is not exactly true.

get_object_vars is scope-sensitive and will return all visible properties excepting static properties regardless of their visbility. If you call it from outside your class, you'll only get the public members; from a derived class, you'll get the protected and public members; and from the class itself, you'll get all the members. The array keys represent the property names, and are not mangled.

The (array) cast returns, at least on PHP 5.3.0, all the object properties, public and otherwise. The name of the properties are mangled according to their protection level:

• public: not mangled, identical to property names
• protected: key name for property starts with a *
• private: key name for property starts with the name of the class

See casting to an array for more informations.

I hope you'll be able to better understand which one is the most appropriate for your situation.

Answer 2

The get_object_vars() function is a clearer method of achieving the effect you want. Although casting it to an array is a solution as well, this behavior might change in later versions of PHP.

I don't know if there is an actual difference between the two methods but the arguments above would lead me to use the function.