I can't use a static method, but that seems to be reasonable

Question

base class:

abstract class Challenge
{
    abstract **static** public function getName();
}

now two classes from it:

class ChallengeType1 extends Challenge
{
    public **static** function getName()
    {
        return 'Swimming';
    }
}

class ChallengeType2 extends Challenge
{
    public **static** function getName()
    {
        return 'Climbing';
    }
}

as you all might know, we can't use static, but it would be reasonable. So I can't do like that: for example, I have the classname, so I want to know it's name: ChallengeType2::getName(); - it will fail! First I should construct the object - looks unnecessary (not to mention, what it this class have very complex initialization?)

The code you've posted works fine from where I'm standing. Well, once the asterisks are removed. — femtoRgon, Nov 28 '12 at 22:24
Please don't decorate your code with things like `**static**`. The code you post should be *valid* code. — user229044, Nov 28 '12 at 22:24
What makes you think this doesn't work? What error are you getting? Give us enough information to help you, and you'll get better results and fewer downvotes. — user229044, Nov 28 '12 at 22:25
oh, if I add the static keyword, php 5.4 will say: Static function Challenge::getName() should not be abstract in — user893856, Nov 28 '12 at 22:27
Your code looks fine - Are you running this from command-line or via a dev-tool (i.e. Eclipse, etc)? And are you sure you are using 5.4 ? — David Farrell, Nov 28 '12 at 22:32
yes. This is 5.4.6. And for the line "abstract static public function getName();" it will say "Strict Standards: Static function Challenge::getName() should not be abstract in sklsdkf" — user893856, Nov 28 '12 at 22:35
I was mistaken, it actually didn't work in my IDE but it showed me an empty `stdout` which is what I expected - Once I checked my `stderr` console, the error you posted was there. I've researched it and presented a solution below. — David Farrell, Nov 29 '12 at 01:30
@user893856, please have a look at my answer below and let me know if my solution works for you. Thank you. — David Farrell, Nov 29 '12 at 06:53

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:56

Turns out you cannot have static abstract methods on an abstract class. See here:

Why does PHP 5.2+ disallow abstract static class methods?

But you can declare an interface to require a static method.

Here is an example that compiles:

Working Example

<?php
interface IChallenge
{
    static function getName();
}

abstract class Challenge implements IChallenge
{

}

class ChallengeType1 extends Challenge
{
    public static function getName()
    {
        return 'Swimming';
    }
}

class ChallengeType2 extends Challenge
{
    public static function getName()
    {
        return 'Climbing';
    }
}

I can't use a static method, but that seems to be reasonable

1 Answers1