In JS you can access methods in this fashion: ParentObject.ChildObject.ChildObjMethod() -- can same be done in PHP?
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What is `ParentObject`, and what is `ParentObject::ChildObject`? Are either of them classes, or is one or both an instance in its own right? – Matchu Dec 26 '10 at 19:44
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well ok, I am wondering if a static class (object) can have a nested static class with certain methods. Typically you can use them like Class::method() but can Class have a nested SubClass that I can access as I described above -- Class::SubClass::SomeMethod() or not? – mvbl fst Dec 26 '10 at 19:53
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No, you can't store a reference to a class in a variable in PHP, or return a class from a method call. Classes aren't "first class objects" in this sense in PHP. – Alana Storm Dec 26 '10 at 21:05
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Not exactly. The :: operator is for invoking static methods on a class. So, you could store a reference to an object statically, but then you'd need to invoke the method with a -> operator.
<?php
class Foo
{
static public $bar;
static public function initStaticMembers()
{
self::$bar = new Bar();
}
}
class Bar
{
public function method()
{
echo "Hello World\n";
}
}
Foo::initStaticMembers();
Foo::$bar->method();
There's no way to do
Object::ChildObject::method();
Method chaining is essentially a shortcut for something like
$o = Object::ChildObject;
$o::method();
The first call is made, and returns or assigns something. The next method is then called on the thing that's returned. You can't store a class in a variable with PHP, or return a class from a function. Therefore, the exact syntax for what you're asking to do is impossible.
That said, method chaining is becoming more popular in PHP. Syntax like the following
$o = new Baz();
$o->method()->anotherMethod()->yetAnotherMethod();
$o->someObjectReference->methodCall()->etc();
is becoming common place. This works because each call or variable reference
$o->method();
$o->someObjectReference;
returns another Object instance, which can then have a method called on it.
Alana Storm
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The :: can be used for accessing static class members. But you can also access instantiated childobjects in PHP, using the normal -> arrow thingy:
$parent->child->child_method();
