magicConstant.outOfFunction

Code example

<?php declare(strict_types = 1);

echo __FUNCTION__;
echo __METHOD__;

Why is it reported?

The magic constants __FUNCTION__ and __METHOD__ are used outside of a function or method. In this context, they always resolve to an empty string '', which is almost certainly not the intended behavior.

PHP defines these magic constants to return the name of the current function or method. When used at the top level of a script or in a class property initializer (outside a method), there is no function context, so the value is always empty.

How to fix it

Move the usage inside a function or method where the magic constant has a meaningful value:

-echo __FUNCTION__;

+function myFunction(): void
+{
+    echo __FUNCTION__; // outputs "myFunction"
+}

If you need the file or line information at the top level, use an appropriate magic constant instead:

-echo __FUNCTION__;
+echo __FILE__;