Passing variable from function within class & echo outside of class

Question

Say I have this code:

class cats {

    function cats_suck() {
        $this->cats = "monkeys";
    }

}

$cats = new cats;
$cats->cats_suck();
echo $cats->cats; //Monkeys?

I would like to pass $cats to outside of my class, I would usually just return $cats then echo the function, but I have a lot of variables in my code.

The bit of code you gave us isn't sufficient for us to help you. Consider adding some real code, or a code that clearly illustrates the problem. — Madara's Ghost
– Madara's Ghost, Commented Nov 29, 2012 at 17:22
That code won't even run. You have no variable in the class called cats. Post real code — Cole Tobin
– Cole Tobin, Commented Nov 29, 2012 at 17:29
@nickb No it will fail with an error for a missing property called cats. Or has PHP evolved even further making crappy code that's hard to debug even easier to write? — Cole Tobin
– Cole Tobin, Commented Nov 29, 2012 at 17:31
@Cole - No, it runs on practically every PHP version since PHP 4.3.0. — nickb
– nickb, Commented Nov 29, 2012 at 17:34
@ColeJohnson You can dynamically add properties (they are private by default). This isn't necessarily that crappy, since it PHP tells you on the tin that it is loosely typed. No reason to expect objects to conform to contracts. — user1726343
– user1726343, Commented Nov 29, 2012 at 17:44

score 2 · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-29 17:31:36Z

2

You could add a getter:

function getcatmonkeys() {
    return $this->cats;
}

so then:

$cats = new cats;
$cats->cats_suck();
echo $cats->getcatmonkeys();

Or you could store all privates in an array and add a magic method for getting:

private $data = array();

function cats_suck() {
    $this->data['cats'] = "monkeys";
}

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

so then:

$cats = new cats;
$cats->cats_suck();
echo $cats->cats; //Monkeys

Which sort of defeats the purpose of having privates, but ours not to question why.

edited Nov 29, 2012 at 17:31

answered Nov 29, 2012 at 17:26

user1726343

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3 Comments

user1742590 Over a year ago

Hmm, very good idea. That would 100% work, but I have around 20-30 variables in my script.

user1726343 Over a year ago

@user1742590 Added another approach.

user1742590 Over a year ago

Thank you very much for the help! great and fast answer!

abegosum · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-29 17:29:26Z

1

Define $cats as a public variable in the class:

class cats {
    public $cats;

    function cats_suck() {
        $this->cats = "monkeys";
    }

}

answered Nov 29, 2012 at 17:29

abegosum

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1 Comment

user1742590 Over a year ago

Oh wow, such a simple answer. Silly me, I've tried doing searches maybe I wasn't searching it correctly. Thank you, lol I'm an idiot. And I've tried making the function public, public static, ect.. and it's all just as simple as defining the var as public. Thank you!

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