PHP: Singleton vs Static Class

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Difference between static class and singleton pattern?

Just wanted to know what exactly is the difference between a singleton and static class?

thanks guys, i am receiving i have to wait for 5 minutes to accept the answer. — Sarfraz, May 25 '10 at 13:07

score 7 · Answer 1 · answered May 25 '10 at 12:58

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In a singleton you can choose to initialize the variable at first call. Whereas a static variable starts to exists at the moment you include / call the file where the static variable is declared.

answered May 25 '10 at 12:58

Anemoia

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And if the file is autoloaded? Presumably then the static class doesn't come to exist until you first call it, like with a singleton? – Codemonkey Jun 14 '20 at 13:33

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Jan 23 '13 at 10:11

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Singleton is the pattern that has nothing to do with the implementation in a particular language. Technically singleton says that you can have only one instance of object in the system. In case of static class you will not have any objects at all.

edited Jan 23 '13 at 10:11

Sergey Telshevsky

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answered May 25 '10 at 13:00

Juriy

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score 1 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:55

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The big difference between a singleton and a bunch of static methods is that singletons can implement interfaces.But static wont

Difference between static class and singleton pattern?

edited May 23 '17 at 11:55

Community

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answered May 25 '10 at 13:02

anishMarokey

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score 1 · Answer 4 · answered May 25 '10 at 13:11

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A singleton is an abstract design pattern that describes an object that can only be created once. A static class is a specific implementation of this design pattern.

answered May 25 '10 at 13:11

Cerin

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PHP: Singleton vs Static Class

4 Answers4