How do I catch a PHP fatal (`E_ERROR`) error?

Question

I can use set_error_handler() to catch most PHP errors, but it doesn't work for fatal (E_ERROR) errors, such as calling a function that doesn't exist. Is there another way to catch these errors?

I am trying to call mail() for all errors and am running PHP 5.2.3.

Answer 1

Log fatal errors using the register_shutdown_function, which requires PHP 5.2+:

register_shutdown_function( "fatal_handler" );

function fatal_handler() {
    $errfile = "unknown file";
    $errstr  = "shutdown";
    $errno   = E_CORE_ERROR;
    $errline = 0;

    $error = error_get_last();

    if($error !== NULL) {
        $errno   = $error["type"];
        $errfile = $error["file"];
        $errline = $error["line"];
        $errstr  = $error["message"];

        error_mail(format_error( $errno, $errstr, $errfile, $errline));
    }
}

You will have to define the error_mail and format_error functions. For example:

function format_error( $errno, $errstr, $errfile, $errline ) {
    $trace = print_r( debug_backtrace( false ), true );

    $content = "
    <table>
        <thead><th>Item</th><th>Description</th></thead>
        <tbody>
            <tr>
                <th>Error</th>
                <td><pre>$errstr</pre></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <th>Errno</th>
                <td><pre>$errno</pre></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <th>File</th>
                <td>$errfile</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <th>Line</th>
                <td>$errline</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <th>Trace</th>
                <td><pre>$trace</pre></td>
            </tr>
        </tbody>
    </table>";
    return $content;
}

Use Swift Mailer to write the error_mail function.

See also:

• $php_errormsg
• Predefined Constants