If each array will contain a single type of object, but you need many of these arrays, each containing a different type of object, I recommend creating a generic "instances-of-class" array using ArrayObject. You can enforce the type in append(), offsetSet(), and exchangeArray() and then check the configured type in methods that want to enforce it. function drawMap(TypedArray $latLngs=null) { if ($latLngs && !$latLngs.containsOnly('LatLng')) { throw new InvalidArgumentException('$latLngs must contain only LatLngs'); } ... } I guess since there are only three methods to override it wouldn't be too painful to create a separate class for each type to get method declaration type hinting. If you aren't containing too many classes and you pass them around a lot, it may be worth it since you won't have to test the container inside the method at all. function drawMap(LatLngArray $latLngs=null) ... Looks like someone beat us to it: http://liamgraham.wordpress.com/2007/05/21/typesafe-arrays-for-php/ David