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The Scope Resolution Operator (::) in PHP is officially called Paamayim Nekudotayim (IPA: [paʔamajim nəkudotajim]). It means 'twice colon' or 'double colon' in Hebrew.

Etymology

Nekudotayim (נקודתיים) means 'colon'; it comes from nekuda (IPA: [nəkuda]), 'point' or 'dot', and the dual suffix ayim (יים-), hence 'two points'. Similarly, the word paamayim (פעמיים) is derived by attaching the dual suffix to paam (IPA: [paʔam]) ('one time' or 'once'), thus yielding 'twice'.

The name was introduced in the Zend Engine 0.5 used in PHP 3. Although it has been confusing to many developers, it is still being used in PHP 5, as in this sample error message:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_PAAMAYIM_NEKUDOTAYIM in...

See also

• PHP
• Scope (programming)
• Name resolution, which includes a discussion of scope resolution
• Niqqud on the vowel points used in Hebrew writing

References

• [1] PHP5 OOP Manual chapter that explains the Paamayim Nekudotayim