PHP Accessing Parent Class Variable

Question

class A {
    private $aa;
    protected $bb = 'parent bb';
    
    function __construct($arg) {
       //do something..
    }
    
    private function parentmethod($arg2) {
       //do something..
    }
}

class B extends A {
    function __construct($arg) {
        parent::__construct($arg);
    }
    function childfunction() {
        echo parent::$bb; //Fatal error: Undefined class constant 'bb' 
    }
}

$test = new B($some);
$test->childfunction();

Question: How do I display the parent variable in the child? the expected result will echo 'parent bb'

George Cummins · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-10 23:32:50Z

85

echo $this->bb;

The variable is inherited and is not private, so it is a part of the current object.

Here is additional information in response to your request for more information about using parent:::

Use parent:: when you want add extra functionality to a method from the parent class. For example, imagine an Airplane class:

class Airplane {
    private $pilot;

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

Now suppose we want to create a new type of Airplane that also has a navigator. You can extend the __construct() method to add the new functionality, but still make use of the functionality offered by the parent:

class Bomber extends Airplane {
    private $navigator;

    public function __construct( $pilot, $navigator ) {
        $this->navigator = $navigator;

        parent::__construct( $pilot ); // Assigns $pilot to $this->pilot
    }
}

In this way, you can follow the DRY principle of development but still provide all of the functionality you desire.

edited Oct 10, 2013 at 23:32

answered Jun 23, 2011 at 15:50

George Cummins

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2 Comments

Kuntau Over a year ago

so thats mean parent keyword only used to access parent method?

George Cummins Over a year ago

Usually, you would use parent:: when you want to override a parent method, but still reference the parent's functionality. If you just want to call the parent's method, you do it the same way as for a variable: $this->parentmethod()

DarthJDG · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-22 10:34:15Z

7

Just echo it since it's inherited

echo $this->bb;

edited Nov 22, 2013 at 10:34

DarthJDG

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answered Jun 23, 2011 at 15:51

Nicola Peluchetti

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3 Comments

MilanG Over a year ago

Just make sure that variable is not defined as private.

HippoDuck Over a year ago

I cannot get this to work. The variable is public, but the variables just aren't getting inherited.

HippoDuck Over a year ago

Apparently it's not. I assumed it would be but found they don't get inherited.

Yoav Kadosh · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-15 09:02:16Z

6

With parent::$bb; you try to retrieve the static constant defined with the value of $bb.

Instead, do:

echo $this->bb;

Note: you don't need to call parent::_construct if B is the only class that calls it. Simply don't declare __construct in B class.

edited Jan 15, 2013 at 9:02

Yoav Kadosh

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answered Jun 23, 2011 at 16:53

corretge

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Comments

Saic Siquot · Accepted Answer · 2014-09-04 22:40:58Z

4

class A {
    private $aa;
    protected $bb = 'parent bb';

    function __construct($arg) {
       //do something..
    }

    private function parentmethod($arg2) {
       //do something..
    }
}

class B extends A {
    function __construct($arg) {
        parent::__construct($arg);
    }
    function childfunction() {
        echo parent::$this->bb; //works by M
    }
}

$test = new B($some);
$test->childfunction();`

edited Sep 4, 2014 at 22:40

Saic Siquot

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answered Mar 8, 2013 at 9:28

user2147836

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4 Comments

Tobia Over a year ago

parent::$this->bb has got to be the craziest object-oriented syntax I've ever seen

SEoF Over a year ago

parent:: in parent::$this->bb achieves nothing but confusing the person asking. I recommend removal or further explanation in order to reduce complexity of the answer.

KD.S.T. Over a year ago

this doesn't work

Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Access to undeclared static property: A::$this in /Applications/MAMP/htdocs/native_testing/index.php:24 Stack trace: #0 /Applications/MAMP/htdocs/native_testing/index.php(29): B->childfunction() #1 {main} thrown in /Applications/MAMP/htdocs/native_testing/index.php on line 24

HippoDuck Over a year ago

This code returns Fatal error: Access to undeclared static property: A::$this

Lajos Arpad · Accepted Answer · 2021-10-07 12:34:50Z

4

$bb has now become the member of class B after extending class A.

So you access $bb like it's an attribute of class B.

class A {
    private $aa;
    protected $bb = 'parent bb';

    function __construct($arg) {
       //do something..
    }

    private function parentmethod($arg2) {
       //do something..
    }
}

class B extends A {
    function __construct($arg) {
        parent::__construct($arg);
    }
    function childfunction() {
        echo $this->bb; 
    }
}

$test = new B($some);
$test->childfunction();

edited Oct 7, 2021 at 12:34

Lajos Arpad

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answered Jun 23, 2011 at 15:51

Steve Nguyen

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Comments

Ahmad Adibzad · Accepted Answer · 2023-05-17 10:06:44Z

2

all the properties and methods of the parent class are inherited in the child class so theoretically you can access them in the child class but beware of using the protected keyword in your class because it throws a fatal error when used in the child class.
as mentioned in php.net

The visibility of a property or method can be defined by prefixing the declaration with the keywords public, protected or private. Class members declared public can be accessed everywhere. Members declared protected can be accessed only within the class itself and by inherited and parent classes. Members declared as private may only be accessed by the class that defines the member.

edited May 17, 2023 at 10:06

Ahmad Adibzad

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answered Jun 23, 2011 at 15:59

2hamed

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1 Comment

T30 Over a year ago

protected doesn't throw errors when used in inherited and parent classes.

Manju Bhargavi Arveti · Accepted Answer · 2021-07-25 12:02:36Z

1

PHP Accessing Parent Class Protected Variable & Methods
class A {
    protected $bb = 'parent bb';
    protected function sayHello(){
        echo 'Say Hello';
    }
}

class B extends A {
    public function childfunction() {
        echo $this->bb.'<br>'; 
        echo $this->sayHello();
    }
}

$test = new B();
$test->childfunction();

answered Jul 25, 2021 at 12:02

Manju Bhargavi Arveti

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1 Comment

Timothy Alexis Vass Over a year ago

Welcome to Stackoverflow. Please read this guide on how to answer questions: stackoverflow.com/help/how-to-answer

Ahmad Adibzad · Accepted Answer · 2023-05-15 07:56:30Z

0

Through the parent class constructor, you can pass data to the parent class from the child class. Have a look below example for a better understanding

<?php

class Student 
{
    public $name;
    function __construct($name){
        $this->name = $name;
    }
}

class Test extends Student
{
    public $age;
    function __construct($name,$age){
        $this->age = $age;
        parent::__construct($name);
    }
}

$obj = new Test("sajib khan" ,21);
echo $obj->name;
echo $obj->age;

?>

edited May 15, 2023 at 7:56

Ahmad Adibzad

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answered Dec 7, 2021 at 4:07

S_K

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Comments

ahuemmer · Accepted Answer · 2022-07-22 17:53:54Z

-1

class A {
    private $points = 100;

    public function getPoints() {
        return $this->points;
    }
}

class B extends A {
    protected $points = 70;

    public function getPoints() {
        return parent::getPoints();
    }
}

$element = new B();
echo $element->getPoints();

change the visibility private or protected for test

edited Jul 22, 2022 at 17:53

ahuemmer

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answered Jul 19, 2022 at 14:47

andres felipe meza mendez

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