# Learn how to import a function() in PHP


TIL\*¹ you can **import just a function** in a .php file, like we do with classes. It works from [PHP 5.6+](http://php.net/manual/en/language.namespaces.importing.php), so there's no weird compatibility issue. And it's dead simple.

Here's an example from [Safe PHP](https://github.com/thecodingmachine/safe), specifically let's say we want to use the safer\*² version of `json_decode`. Pay attention at how this allows us to override PHP's default `json_decode` global function:

```php
// First we import it
use function Safe\json_decode;

// And then we just use it
$foobar = json_decode($content);
```

Yes, it's not a jode. That's all. You tell PHP that what you're importing is a function and the just use the function's name instead of a class name. After that, you can use said function in you code as if it were a global or local function. How cool is that?!

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- \*1 Not really today, this post was in draft state since 2017/12/22 o.o
- \*2 These are a set of core PHP functions rewritten to throw exceptions instead of returning `false` when an error is encountered. For more information about this project you can go to their repo <https://github.com/thecodingmachine/safe>