The **`class_exists()` method** can be used to check if the class is defined.

#     
#  Syntax

---
    class_exists(string $classname, bool $autoload = true): bool
---

#     
## Arguments

- **`classname`**: The name of the class to be checked.

- **`autoload`**: A Boolean value denoting whether to call `__autoload` by default. 

- The `__autoload` will try to load an *undefined* class.
> Click [here](https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.autoload.php) for more details. 

##    
## Return type

This method returns `true` if the class is defined. Otherwise, `false` is returned.

<?php
  class Test{ }

  echo "Checking if Test class exist : ";
  var_dump(class_exists('Test'));

  echo "Checking if Temp class exist : ";
  var_dump(class_exists('Temp'));
?>

#      
## Explanation

In the code above, we have created a class with the name `Test`. We then called the `class_exists` method to check if the class exists. 

We get `true` for the class name `Test`. We get `false` for the class name `Temp`, because the `Temp` class is not defined.

What is the class_exists() method in PHP?

Checks if a class is defined; returns true if it exists, false otherwise. Takes class name and autoload parameters.

What is the class_exists() method in PHP?

Syntax

Arguments

Return type

Code

Explanation