Enhanced __CLASS__ constant

Especially in namespaced code it should be very useful to have "something" returning fully qualified name as string. It can be operator, but I think introducing new keyword is bad way, or it can be realized using well known magic constant in new context: Example: function factory($class) { return new $class; } $obj = factory('MyClass'); // returns object MyClass $obj = factory(MyClass::__CLASS__); // returns again object MyClass, code is little bit more selfexplaining But big advantages are in namespaced code (especially when you refactor a code): namespace Foo; use Other\Bar; $obj = factory('MyClass'); // ERROR - returns object \MyClass, must be refactored to: $obj = factory(__NAMESPACE__ . '\\MyClass'); // very very ugly! :-( $obj = factory('Other\Bar'); // use statement must be duplicated here :-( // with magic contant: $obj = factory(MyClass::__CLASS__); // returns object Foo\MyClass, very understandable :-) $obj = factory(Bar::__CLASS__); // returns object Other\Bar, as use statement declares :-) David Grudl