Omit Variable in Catch Block using PHP 8.0

In versions prior to PHP 8.0, in order to catch an exception, we need to store it in a variable. However, there can be situations when variable is not used. In the following example, we need to specify the variable in the catch block even if it's not used:

<?php

class AccessDeniedToDeleteDataException extends Exception {};

function deleteData() {
    throw new AccessDeniedToDeleteDataException('Denied');
}

try {
    deleteData();
} catch (AccessDeniedToDeleteDataException $exception) {
    echo 'Delete data not allowed';
}

In our case, the exception type AccessDeniedToDeleteDataException is clear enough to convey an idea of the exception. So, the details about exception are irrelevant.

Since PHP 8.0, we can omit a variable in the catch block.

<?php

// ...

try {
    deleteData();
} catch (AccessDeniedToDeleteDataException) {
    echo 'Delete data not allowed';
}

Note that exceptions such as Exception or Throwable are too general, and catching them without capturing them to variables might be a bad practice.