Access of Non-Static Function of a Class in PHP

Question

Why is this legal in PHP?

<?php
class Foo {
    public function test() {
        echo "hello\n";
    }
}

Foo::test();
?>

test() is a non-static function but I can access it without an instance.

Mike B · Accepted Answer · 2009-11-17 21:57:39Z

6

It's legal, but generally frowned upon, until you reference $this in your statically called method which will throw a fatal error.

answered Nov 17, 2009 at 21:57

Mike B

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Community · Accepted Answer · 2023-11-17 20:38:18Z

5

I believe it's because of backwards compatibility. In PHP4 you didn't have the static keyword for methods (still looking for reference, but so far this is all I've found https://www.php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.static.php). This way, PHP4 code can still run without a problem.

It is better practice to declare your static functions as such and if you turn on E_STRICT you'll see a notice about this.

 
error_reporting(E\_ALL | E\_STRICT);

Update: well, this is the best I've found http://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=34990 and http://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=47891.

edited Nov 17, 2023 at 20:38

CommunityBot

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answered Nov 17, 2009 at 22:14

mozillalives

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Alix Axel · Accepted Answer · 2009-11-17 22:01:25Z

2

From the PHP Manual:

Calling non-static methods statically generates an E_STRICT level warning.

answered Nov 17, 2009 at 22:01

Alix Axel

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Community · Accepted Answer · 2023-11-17 19:22:09Z

0

This works because you have not enabled the E_STRICT error level. Once enabled PHP will stop letting you to do this.

edited Nov 17, 2023 at 19:22

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answered Nov 17, 2009 at 22:01

shufler

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Steven Smethurst · Accepted Answer · 2009-11-17 21:57:04Z

-2

I don't believe that you can access a method of a class with out a instance of the object.

answered Nov 17, 2009 at 21:57

Steven Smethurst

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