Creating a class name from a variable

Question

I would like to define the class name using variables in PHP. Is this possible?

Let me explain.

I am a small custom CMS that allows the end user to configure a prefix for the table names. So a user can define the prefix such as "rc_". The problem is, I have a lot of models that use the table name as the class. So for example, if one of my tables is rc_posts, the model will be called

class MyModel_Rc_posts extends MyModelController {
         // code here
}

Is there any way to define a class using variables in PHP WITHOUT using eval() such as:

class MyModel_{$PREFIX}posts extends MyModelController {
// code here
}

The reason I want to avoid eval, is because some of these classes can get pretty long. Suggestions appreciated.

Code smell detected: Why would you need to tie the domain object name to the table name if both are completely different: One is storage, the other is domain model. =\ If you really want this, you should have Table Data Gateway with a property representing the table name. — Keyne Viana
– Keyne Viana, Commented Sep 1, 2012 at 21:21

Community · Accepted Answer · 2023-11-14 22:23:05Z

3

Take a look at class_alias - it should help you make this even readable!

Just to make this clear: You create your class with a "normal" name, then add an alias name on demand. The alias name can be any string, this includes a string stored in a variable.

Edit

While I think, that class_alias() is the way to go, here is an example on how to do it without it.

From your OQ:

class MyModel_Rc_posts extends MyModelController {
         // code here
}

Now

eval("class MyModel_{$PREFIX}posts extends MyModel_Rc_posts {};");

should do something very similar to class_alias().

Going this rout could be necessary, if you need get_class() later - on an aliased class, it will give you the original (static) classname, not the alias. With the ugly eval()/extends trick you get the dynamic name.

edited Nov 14, 2023 at 22:23

CommunityBot

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answered Sep 1, 2012 at 18:26

Eugen Rieck

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1 Comment

Rohit Chopra Over a year ago

Awesome. I will give this a shot and reply back!

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