syntax error, unexpected ‘::’, expecting ‘(’¶

Description¶

This is a situation where a new keyword degrades a previously valid syntax. match is a new keyword in PHP 8.0, for the eponymous command. It cannot be used as a class name, a function name, or a global constant, as before.

By extension, the match keyword cannot be used in static object notations, such as calling a constant, or a static method or property.

This error may arise with other keywords, for similar reasons.

Example¶

<?php

echo Match::A;

?>

Solutions¶

Rename the match class to a non-keyword name.