Possible to use magic methods get and set for both array and nonarray class member variables?

Question

I currently have the following __get/__set methods in the PHP class example:

class example{

    /*Member variables*/
    protected $a; 
    protected $b = array(); 

    public function __get($name){
        return $this->$name;
    }

    public function __set($name, $value){
        $this->$name = $value;
    }

}

However, in addition to setting standard protected variables, I would also like to be able to set protected arrays within the class. I've looked through some other questions and found general suggestions as to how to simple set variables using the __get/__set methods, but nothing that would allow one to use these magic methods to set BOTH arrays and nonarrays, i.e. in the following manner:

$fun = new $example(); 
$fun->a = 'yay'; 
$fun->b['coolio'] = 'yay2';

Ja͢ck · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-13 11:32:42Z

6

Simple, define __get() like so:

public function &__get($name)
{
    return $this->$name;
}

// ...

$fun = new example();
$fun->a = 'yay';
$fun->b['coolio'] = 'yay2';
var_dump($fun);

Output:

object(example)#1 (2) {
  ["a":protected]=>
  string(3) "yay"
  ["b":protected]=>
  array(1) {
    ["coolio"]=>
    string(4) "yay2"
  }
}

Do take necessary care when you're dealing with references, it's easy to mess up and introduce hard to track bugs.

edited Jun 13, 2014 at 11:32

answered Jun 13, 2014 at 11:04

Ja͢ck

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7 Comments

MackieeE Over a year ago

Impressive, if that's really possible x) But I have to say, how is this not documented? PHP magic methods

snehoozle Over a year ago

This is documented briefly but I wanted to delve a bit further. If get is being set by reference, will the set function remain identical to before? Additionally, given the risk of bugs with a get function that involves references, would you suggest that I simply create a different set of functions to deal with arrays?

Ja͢ck Over a year ago

__set() is only called when the property as a whole is being assigned a value, i.e. $fun->b = something_else;

Jon Over a year ago

Even after all these years, I just.cant.believe that returning by ref does not actually enable modification of the protected variable through that ref if the ref is assigned to a variable (you 'd need $a = &$fun->foo to enable that). Well played, PHP, well played. Am I missing something or is this a) completely unreasonable, b) par for the course, and c) reason enough to always make __get return by ref?

Ja͢ck Over a year ago

@Jon Apparently, according to this 3v4l it's supposed to work this way ... I'm a ... surprised a little myself :)

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