oop - PHP differences between abstract public static vs abstract static public -

i mistakenly defined method signature as

abstract static public function mapattributekeys(array $attributes)

it works properly, while i'm refactoring code, see not looks , should following according habit.

abstract public static function mapattributekeys(array $attributes)

i little surprised how these 2 works. thinking above syntax wrong syntax.

so these 2 working. there reason why definition not stricted ? or pattern match here ?

my actual aim learn why these flexibility exist ? there special approach or implementation trick exist ?

updated :

i saw https://stackoverflow.com/a/10740068/1147648 explanation meaningful.

an abstract function never static, in kind of language 

if true, why there implementation exist ?

even in symfony validator loader.

https://github.com/symfony/validator/blob/master/tests/mapping/loader/abstractstaticmethodloader.php

abstract, public , static modifier keywords function definition. there's no specific order in need stated, they're of equivalent importance , not rely on or interact 1 in way.

a big, blue, round ball same blue, round, big ball.

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an abstract function never static, in kind of language

jein.

the use of abstract force subclass implement particular method, so parent class/users of parent class can rely on method being there:

abstract class foo {     abstract public function bar(); }  function baz(foo $foo) {     $foo->bar(); } 

baz doesn't know specific instance of foo it'll receive, can sure it'll have bar method.

now, static methods can called on class itself:

foo::bar(); 

if you're writing this, you know class you're calling bar on. you're not going substitute foo here; foo hardcoded, not variable in case $foo.* so... know you're getting , don't need abstract base class enforce interface you.

_{* true if use string variable dynamically change class name. point can't type hint against that, you're on own. class interfaces, includes abstract methods, become useful , interesting type hinting, can done object instances.}

it's possible enforce static methods defined on child classes, doesn't make whole lot of practical sense.