Can't use "const" and "define" in PHP class

Question

I am pulling my hair out on this one. Pretty new at PHP but this is so basic I just can't figure out where the problem is. Using the code snippet below as an example:

class LG_Activity_Processor {
// Activity Types
const STATUS_DRAFT = 'draft';
const STATUS_PUBLISH = 'publish';
...
private $STATUS_FUTURE = 'future';
define ("STATUS_PRIVATE" , 'private');

I had originally intended to just use the "const" construct as the variables are fully defined prior to run time and I just think the syntax is prettier than that ugly "define". The problem is while the definition of the const gives no errors, whenever I refer to the constant later in the class I get the following error message:

PHP Notice: Use of undefined constant STATUS_PUBLISH - assumed 'STATUS_PUBLISH'

Huh? Just to be clear, here's the syntax I used to reference the "const":

$core_fields ['post_status'] = STATUS_PUBLISH;

I even tried:

$core_fields ['post_status'] = $this->STATUS_PUBLISH;

No love. I then entered a state of despair and eventually tried "define". Same calling syntax but I changed the definition syntax to that as illustrated above for "STATUS_PRIVATE". This made things far worth as I now had a fatal error on the define line that looked like this:

PHP Parse error:  syntax error, unexpected T_STRING, expecting T_FUNCTION

I gave up. I finally just defined the variable as a private variable (as in the example of STATUS_FUTURE) and then referred to it as:

$core_fields ['post_status'] = $this->STATUS_PUBLISH;

That works just like you'd expect it to but I can't help but feeling I've been cheated out of doing it the right way. Any ideas on how to make my code whole again?

Don't use define() in classes - const is what you need. Use ClassName::CONST_NAME outside of a class, and in the same class, just use self::CONST_NAME. — halfer
– halfer, Commented Apr 30, 2012 at 23:02

Mitch Dempsey · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-30 22:59:23Z

6

You should do LG_Activity_Processor::STATUS_DRAFT when accessing it.

Take a look at the PHP manual, it gives you clear examples.

http://php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.constants.php

answered Apr 30, 2012 at 22:59

Mitch Dempsey

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4 Comments

No Results Found Over a year ago

Or just self::STATUS_DRAFT if used within the scope of the class itself.

Mitch Dempsey Over a year ago

@Madmartigan that is only available if you are inside the class. It will work here, but using the full classname will work everywhere.

No Results Found Over a year ago

I assumed he was working in the scope of the class by seeing the code $this->STATUS_PUBLISH

ken Over a year ago

I am working within the scope of the class itself. I'll try the self:: abbreviation as soon as I've dropped the dog off this morning. I could have sworn I had tried the fully qualified LG_Acitivity_Processor:: but maybe I didn't. In any regard, thanks for the pointer and I'll hopefully close this out in the next hour or so.

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