PHP OOP Complete Tutorial from Beginner to Advanced

Dec 23, 2021 18 min read php

Object Orientd programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm that works with Classes and Objects. OOP is very useful while maintaining a large codebase.

OOP is consists of some core concepts. We are going cover the topics of Object Oriented Programming step by step. I tried my best keep the content as simple as possible.

Class, Object, Method and Property
$this keyword
Method Chaining
Access Modifier
Magic Method and Constant
Inheritance
Override
Abstract Class and Method
Interface
Polymorphism
Type Hinting
Static Method and Property
Trait
All Magic Methods Overview

Class, Object, Method and Property

Class is like a blueprint like Car design from which Object can be created.
Object is instance of the Class like BMW is an instance of Car.
Functions inside a class are called Methods.
Variables inside a class are called Properties.

<?php
// Declare the class
class Car
{
    // Properties
    public $comp;
    public $color = 'beige';
    public $hasSunRoof = true;

    // Method that says hello
    public function hello()
    {
        return "beep";
    }
}

// Create an instance with new keyword
$bmw = new Car();
$mercedes = new Car();

// Get the values
echo $bmw->color; // beige
echo "<br />";
echo $mercedes->color; // beige
echo "<hr />";

// Set the values
$bmw->color = 'blue';
$bmw->comp = "BMW";
$mercedes->comp = "Mercedes Benz";

// Get the values again
echo $bmw->color; // blue
echo "<br />";
echo $mercedes->color; // beige
echo "<br />";
echo $bmw->comp; // BMW
echo "<br />";
echo $mercedes->comp; // Mercedes Benz
echo "<hr />";

// Use the methods to get a beep
echo $bmw->hello(); // beep
echo "<br />";
echo $mercedes->hello(); // beep

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$this keyword

$this keyword indicates own class. Own methods and properties can be accessed through $this keyword.

<?php

class Car
{
    // The properties
    public $comp;
    public $color = 'red';
    public $hasSunRoof = true;

    // The method that says hello
    public function hello()
    {
        // accessing own properties and methods using $this
        return "Beep, I am a " . $this->comp .
            ", and my color is" . $this->color.
            ". I am created at " . $this->model() . ".";
    }

    public function model()
    {
        return date('Y');
    }
}

// We can now create an object from the class.
$bmw = new Car();
$mercedes = new Car();

// Set the values of the class properties.
$bmw->color = 'blue';
$bmw->comp = "BMW";
$mercedes->comp = "Mercedes Benz";

// Call the hello method.
echo $bmw->hello();
echo $mercedes->hello();

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Method Chaining

When a Class’s Methods returns $this keyword, then can be chained together.

<?php

class Car
{
    public $tank;

    // Add gallons of fuel to the tank when we fill it.
    public function fill($float)
    {
        $this->tank += $float;

        return $this;
    }

    // Substract gallons of fuel from the tank as we ride the car.
    public function ride($float)
    {
        $miles = $float;
        $gallons = $miles / 50;
        $this->tank -= $gallons;

        return $this;
    }
}

// Create a new object from the Car class.
$bmw = new Car();

// Add 10 gallons of fuel, then ride 40 miles,
// and get the number of gallons in the tank.
$tank = $bmw->fill(10)->ride(40)->tank;

// Print the results to the screen.
echo "The number of gallons left in the tank: " . $tank . " gal.";

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Access Modifier

Access modifiers add Encapsulation to class properties and methods, that means it declares the visibility of the properties and methods.
Access modifiers are Public, Private and Protected.
Public modifier allows a code from outside or inside the class to access the class’s methods and properties.
Private modifier prevents access to a class’s methods or properties from any code that is outside the class.
Protected modifier, which allows code usage from both inside the class and from its child classes.

<?php

class Car
{
    // Private access modifier denies access to the property and method from outside the class’s scope
    private $model;

    // Public access modifier allows the access from outside the class
    public function setModel($model)
    {
        $this->model = $model;
    }

    public function getModel()
    {
        return "The car model is  " . $this->model;
    }
}

$mercedes = new Car();
//Sets the car’s model
$mercedes->setModel("Mercedes benz");
//Gets the car’s model
echo $mercedes->getModel();

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Magic Method and Constant

The “magic” methods are ones with special names, starting with two underscores, which denote methods which will be triggered in response to particular PHP events.
PHP provides a set of special predefined constants that change depending on where they are used. These constants are called magic constants, begin and end with two underscores.

<?php

class Car
{
    private $model = '';

    // __construct magic method
    public function __construct($model = null)
    {
        if ($model) {
            $this->model = $model;
        }
    }

    public function getCarModel()
    {
        // We use the __CLASS__ magic constant in order to get the class name
        return " The <b>" . __class__ . "</b> model is: " . $this->model;
    }
}

$car1 = new Car('Mercedes');

echo $car1->getCarModel();

⏬ All magic methods overview

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Inheritance

In inheritance, we have a parent class with its own methods and properties, and a child class (or classes) that can use the code from the parent.

<?php
// The parent class
class Car
{
    // The $model property is protected, so it can be accessed
    // from within the class and its child classes
    protected $model;

    // Public setter method
    public function setModel($model)
    {
        $this->model = $model;
    }
}

// The child class
class SportsCar extends Car
{
    public function hello()
    {
        // Has no problem to get a protected property that belongs to the parent
        return "beep! I am a <i>" . $this->model . "</i><br />";
    }
}

// Create an instance from the child class
$sportsCar1 = new SportsCar();

// Set the class model name
$sportsCar1->setModel('Mercedes Benz');

// Get the class model name
echo $sportsCar1->hello();

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Override

Child class can have its own properties and methods same as parent, it can override the properties and methods of the parent class.
In order to prevent the method in the child class from overriding the parent’s methods, we can prefix the method in the parent with the final keyword.

<?php
// The parent class has hello method that returns "beep".
class Car
{
    // Child class can override this method
    public function hello()
    {
        return "beep";
    }

    // Prevents the child class from overriding
    final public function tryToOverride()
    {
        return "try hard";
    }
}

// The child class has hello method that returns "Hallo"
class SportsCar extends Car
{
    public function hello()
    {
        return "Hallo";
    }

    // This code will throw PHP Fatal error: "Cannot override"
    // public function tryToOverride()
    // {
    //     return "trying for lifetime";
    // }
}

// Create a new object
$sportsCar1 = new SportsCar();

// Get the result of the hello method
echo $sportsCar1->hello();

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Abstract Class and Method

An abstract class is a class that contains at least one abstract method, which is a method without any actual code in it, just the name and the parameters, and that has been marked as “abstract”.
The purpose of this is to provide a kind of template to inherit from and to force the inheriting class to implement the abstract methods.
When inheriting from an abstract class, all methods marked abstract in the parent’s class declaration must be defined by the child; additionally, these methods must be defined with the same (or a less restricted) visibility. For example, if the abstract method is defined as protected, the function implementation must be defined as either protected or public, but not private
An abstract class can not be instantiated with new keyword
An abstract class thus is something between a regular class and a pure interface.

<?php
// Abstract classes are declared with the abstract keyword, and contain abstract methods.
abstract class Car
{
    // Abstract classes can have properties
    protected $tankVolume;

    // Abstract classes can have non abstract methods
    public function setTankVolume($volume)
    {
        $this->tankVolume = $volume;
    }

    // Abstract method
    abstract public function calcNumMilesOnFullTank();
}

class Toyota extends Car
{
    // Since we inherited abstract method, we need to define it in the child class,
    // by adding code to the method's body.
    public function calcNumMilesOnFullTank()
    {
        return $miles = $this->tankVolume * 33;
    }

    public function getColor()
    {
        return "beige";
    }
}

$toyota1 = new Toyota();
$toyota1->setTankVolume(10);
echo $toyota1->calcNumMilesOnFullTank();//330
echo $toyota1->getColor();//beige

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Interface

Also interfaces are a special case of abstract classes where ALL methods are abstract (blank body).
A class can implements (not extends) more than one interface, thereby, we can simulate multiple inheritances in PHP.
Implementing a interface ensures that all functions inside the interface is implemented by the class
An interface can extend another interface and thereby it inherits all functions declared with this interface.
Interfaces can have constants, but not properties

<?php

interface Car
{
    // Can include public abstract methods and constants
    public function setModel($name);

    public function getModel();
}

interface Vehicle
{
    public function setHasWheels($bool);

    public function getHasWheels();
}

class miniCar implements Car, Vehicle
{
    // Implements interface methods and may have its own code
    private $model;
    private $hasWheels;

    public function setModel($name)
    {
        $this->model = $name;
    }

    public function getModel()
    {
        return $this->model;
    }

    public function setHasWheels($bool)
    {
        $this->hasWheels = $bool;
    }

    public function getHasWheels()
    {
        return ($this->hasWheels) ? "has wheels" : "no wheels";
    }

    public function talk()
    {
        return "wow";
    }
}

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Polymorphism

Polymorphism represent more than one form, it can be achieved using method overloading and method overriding. This is an object oriented concept where same function can be used for different purposes. For example function name will remain same but it may take different number of arguments (overloading) and can do different task (overriding).
PHP doesn’t support traditional method overloading, however one way you might be able to achieve what you want, would be to make use of the __call magic method.

<?php
// According to the Polymorphism principle, methods in
// different classes that do similar things should have the same name
interface Shape
{
    public function calcArea();
}

class Circle implements Shape
{
    private $radius;

    public function __construct($radius)
    {
        $this->radius = $radius;
    }

    // calcArea calculates the area of circles
    public function calcArea()
    {
        return $this->radius * $this->radius * pi();
    }
}

class Rectangle implements Shape
{
    private $width;
    private $height;

    public function __construct($width, $height)
    {
        $this->width = $width;
        $this->height = $height;
    }

    // calcArea calculates the area of rectangles
    public function calcArea()
    {
        return $this->width * $this->height;
    }
}

$circ = new Circle(3);
$rect = new Rectangle(3, 4);

echo $circ->calcArea();
echo $rect->calcArea();

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Type Hinting

With Type hinting we can specify the expected data type (arrays, objects, interface, etc.) for an argument in a function declaration.

<?php
// With Type hinting we can specify the expected data type
// (arrays, objects, interface, etc.) for an argument in a function declaration
class Car
{
    protected $driver;
    protected $model;
    protected $hasSunRoof;
    protected $numberOfDoors;
    protected $price;

    // The constructor can only get Driver objects as arguments.
    public function __construct(Driver $driver)
    {
        $this->driver = $driver;
    }

    // string type hinting
    public function setModel(string $model)
    {
        $this->model = $model;
    }

    // boolean type hinting
    public function setHasSunRoof(bool $value)
    {
        $this->hasSunRoof = $value;
    }

    // integer type hinting
    public function setNumberOfDoors(int $value)
    {
        $this->numberOfDoors = $value;
    }

    // float type hinting
    public function setPrice(float $value)
    {
        $this->price = $value;
    }
}

class Driver
{

}

// Car accepts Driver type
$driver1 = new Driver();
$car1 = new Car($driver1);

$car1->setModel('BMW');
$car1->setHasSunRoof(true);
$car1->setNumberOfDoors(4);
$car1->setPrice(1234.56);

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Static Method and Property

Sometimes, it is useful if we can access methods and properties in the context of a class rather than via creating an object. To do this, we can use static keyword.

<?php

class Utilis
{
    // Declaring class properties or methods as static makes them
    // accessible without needing an instantiation of the class.
    public static $numCars = 0;

    public static function addToNumCars($int)
    {
        $int = (int)$int;
        self::$numCars += $int;
    }
}

echo Utilis::$numCars;

Utilis::addToNumCars(3);
echo Utilis::$numCars;

Utilis::addToNumCars(-1);
echo Utilis::$numCars;

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Trait

A Trait is simply a group of methods that you want include within another class.
Traits is a mechanism for code reuse in single inheritance languages such as PHP. A Trait is intended to reduce some limitations of single inheritance by enabling a developer to reuse sets of methods freely in several independent classes living in different class hierarchies.
A Trait, like an abstract class, cannot be instantiated on it’s own

<?php
// Traits are a mechanism for code reuse in single inheritance languages such as PHP
// Reuse sets of methods from trait freely in several independent classes
trait Hello
{
    public function sayHello()
    {
        echo 'Hello ';
    }
}

trait World
{
    public function sayWorld()
    {
        echo 'World';
    }
}

class MyHelloWorld
{
    // Multiple Traits Usage
    use Hello, World;
    public function sayExclamationMark()
    {
        echo $this->sayHello();
    }
}

$o = new MyHelloWorld();
$o->sayHello();
$o->sayWorld();
$o->sayExclamationMark();

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All Magic Methods Overview

__construct

The PHP constructor is the first method that is automatically called after the object is created.
Each class has a constructor. If you do not explicitly declare it, then there will be a default constructor with no parameters and empty content in the class.
Constructors are usually used to perform some initialization tasks, such as setting initial values for member variables when creating objects.
Parent constructors are not called implicitly if the child class defines a constructor. In order to run a parent constructor, a call to parent::__construct() within the child constructor is required. If the child does not define a constructor then it may be inherited from the parent class just like a normal class method (if it was not declared as private)

__destruct

Destructor is the opposite of constructor. The destructor method will be called as soon as there are no other references to a particular object, or in any order during the shutdown sequence.
Destructor allows you to perform some operations before destroying an object, such as closing a file, emptying a result set, and so on.
In general, the destructor is not very common in PHP. It’s an optional part of a class, usually used to complete some cleanup tasks before the object is destroyed.
Like constructors, parent destructors will not be called implicitly by the engine. In order to run a parent destructor, one would have to explicitly call parent::__destruct() in the destructor body. Also like constructors, a child class may inherit the parent’s destructor if it does not implement one itself.

__call

Triggered when invoking inaccessible methods in an object context, simply when method is not found in that class
This method takes two parameters. The first parameter $name argument is the name of the method being called and the second $arguments will receive multiple arguments of the method as an array.

__callStatic

Triggered when invoking inaccessible methods in a static context, simply when static method is not found in that class
This method takes two parameters. The first parameter $name argument is the name of the method being called and the second $arguments will receive multiple arguments of the method as an array.

__get

We can use the magic method __get() to access a private property of an external object

__set

It is used to set the private property of the object.
When an undefined property is assigned, the __set() method will be triggered and the passed parameters are the property name and value that are set.

__isset

It is triggered when we call isset() or empty() on inaccessible properties

__unset

It is triggered when we call unset() on inaccessible properties

__sleep

The serialize() method will check if there is a magic method __sleep() in the class. If it exists, the method will be called first and then perform the serialize operation.
The __sleep() method is often used to specify the properties that need to be serialized before saving data. If there are some very large objects that don’t need to be saved all, then you will find this feature is very useful.
It is supposed to return an array with the names of all variables of that object that should be serialized. If the method doesn’t return anything then NULL is serialized and E_NOTICE is issued.
It is not possible for __sleep() to return names of private properties in parent classes

__wakeup

In contrast to the **sleep() method, the **wakeup() method is often used in deserialize operations, such as re-building a database connection, or performing other initialization operations.
This will invoke destruct method internally

__toString

The __toString() method will be called when using echo method to print an object directly.
This method must return a string, otherwise it will throw a fatal error.

__invoke

This method is called when a we try to call an object as a function.

__set_state

This static method is called for classes exported by var_export()
The only parameter of this method is an array containing exported properties in the form array(‘property’ => value, …).

__debuginfo

This method is called by var_dump() when dumping an object to get the properties that should be shown.
If the method isn’t defined on an object, then all public, protected and private properties will be shown.

__clone

An object copy is created by using the clone keyword (which calls the object’s __clone() method if possible).
An object’s __clone() method cannot be called directly.
When an object is cloned, PHP will perform a shallow copy of all of the object’s properties. Any properties that are references to other variables will remain references.
Once the cloning is complete, if a **clone() method is defined, then the newly created object’s **clone() method will be called, to allow any necessary properties that need to be changed.

<?php
// We are implementing Serializable only for testing serialize() and unserialize()
class Car implements Serializable
{
    public $name;
    private $hidden = 'Serect';

    // __construct ([ mixed $args = "" [, $... ]] ) : void
    function __construct($name = null)
    {
        $this->name = $name;
        echo ("Constructor is called\n");
    }

    public function say()
    {
        echo "My name is $this->name\n";
    }

    // __destruct ( void ) : void
    function __destruct()
    {
        echo "Destroying " . __class__ . "\n";
    }

    // public __call ( string $name , array $arguments ) : mixed
    public function __call($name, $arguments)
    {
        echo "Calling object method '$name', Arguments: " . implode(', ', $arguments) . "\n";
    }

    // public static __callStatic ( string $name , array $arguments ) : mixed
    public static function __callStatic($name, $arguments)
    {
        echo "Calling static method '$name', Arguments: " . implode(', ', $arguments) . "\n";
    }

    // public __set ( string $name , mixed $value ) : void
    public function __set($name, $value)
    {
        echo "Setting '$name' to '$value'\n";
        $this->$name = $value;
    }

    // public __get ( string $name ) : mixed
    public function __get($name)
    {
        echo "Getting '$name'\n";
        return $this->$name;
    }

    // public __isset ( string $name ) : bool
    public function __isset($name)
    {
        echo "Is '$name' set?\n";
        return isset($this->$name);
    }

    // public __unset ( string $name ) : void
    public function __unset($name)
    {
        echo "Unsetting '$name'\n";
        unset($this->$name);
    }

    // public __sleep ( void ) : array
    public function __sleep()
    {
        echo "It is invoked because serialize() method is invoked outside the class\n";
        $this->name = base64_encode($this->name);
        // should return an array
        return array('name');
    }

    public function __wakeup()
    {
        echo "It is invoked when the unserialize() method is invoked outside the class.<br>";
        $this->name = 'Mr. Bean';
        // There is no need to return an array here.
    }

    // Serializable interface method
    public function serialize()
    {
        return serialize('hello world');
    }

    // Serializable interface method
    public function unserialize($serialized)
    {
        $this->name = unserialize($serialized);
    }

    // public __toString ( void ) : string
    public function __toString()
    {
        return "Beautiful Car\n";
    }

    // __invoke ([ $... ] ) : mixed
    public function __invoke($x = true)
    {
        var_dump($x);
    }

    // static __set_state ( array $properties ) : object
    public static function __set_state($an_array)
    {
        $obj = new Car;
        $obj->name = $an_array["name"];

        return $obj;
    }

    // __debugInfo ( void ) : array
    public function __debugInfo()
    {
        return ['name' => 'Debug Name'];
    }

    // __clone ( void ) : void
    public function __clone()
    {
        echo "You are cloning the object\n";
    }

}

// __construct is invoked
$bmw = new Car('X1');
// say() method from class is invoked
$bmw->say();
// class has no method names runTest() so __call is invoked
$bmw->runTest('Hi', 123);
// class has no static method names runTest() so __callStatic is invoked
Car::runTest('Hello', 123);
echo "\n";

// class has no private property 'aaa' so __set is invoked
$bmw->aaa = 1;
// class has private property 'hidden' so __set is invoked
$bmw->hidden = "Hacked";
// class has public property 'name' so __set is not invoked
$bmw->name = "X8";
echo "\n";

// class has no private property 'aaa' so __get is not invoked
echo $bmw->aaa . "\n";
// class has private property 'hidden' so __get is invoked
echo $bmw->hidden . "\n";
// class has public property 'name' so __get is invoked
echo $bmw->name . "\n";
echo "\n";

// class has private property 'hidden' so __isset is invoked
var_dump(isset($bmw->hidden));
// class has private property 'hidden' so __unset is invoked
unset($bmw->hidden);
var_dump(isset($bmw->hidden));
echo "\n";

// class has public property 'name' so __isset is not invoked
var_dump(isset($bmw->name));
// class has public property 'name' so __unset is not invoked
unset($bmw->name);
// Now 'name' property isn't set, that's why __isset is invoked to search it's private properties
var_dump(isset($bmw->name));
echo "\n";

// serialize will invoke __sleep method
echo(serialize($bmw));
// unserialize will invoke __wakeup method
// it will also invoke __destruct method
echo(unserialize(serialize($bmw)));
echo "\n";

// The __toString() method will be called when using echo method to print an object directly.
echo $bmw;
// When you try to call an object in the way of calling a function, the __invoke method will be called automatically.
echo $bmw();
echo "\n";

// __set_state() method is called by var_export()
$someCar = new Car('Some Name');
$someCar->name = "Honda";
eval('$b = ' . var_export($someCar, true) . ';');
echo var_export($b);
echo "\n";

// __debugInfo() method is called by var_dump() when dumping an object to get the properties that should be shown
var_dump(new Car("poll"));
echo "\n";

// __clone() method will be called when performing clone
$fromSomeCar = clone $someCar;

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php

PHP OOP Complete Tutorial from Beginner to Advanced

Table of Contents

Class, Object, Method and Property

$this keyword

Method Chaining

Access Modifier

Magic Method and Constant

Inheritance

Override

Abstract Class and Method

Interface

Polymorphism

Type Hinting

Static Method and Property

Trait

All Magic Methods Overview

__construct

__destruct

__call

__callStatic

__get

__set

__isset

__unset

__sleep

__wakeup

__toString

__invoke

__set_state

__debuginfo

__clone

IMRAN POLLOB

PhD Student

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