Passing Objects into PHP constructor error

Question

Is it possible to pass an object into the constructor of a PHP class, and set that object as a global variable that can be used by the rest of the functions in the class?

For example:

class test {

   function __construct($arg1, $arg2, $arg3) {
      global $DB, $ode, $sel;

      $DB = arg1;
      $ode = arg2;
      $sel = $arg3;
   }

   function query(){
      $DB->query(...);
   }

}

When I try to do this, I get a "Call to a member function on a non-object" error. Is there anyway to do this? Otherwise, I have to pass the objects into each individual function directly.

Thanks!

Crast · Accepted Answer · 2010-01-17 07:39:46Z

6

You probably want to assign them to values on $this.

In your constructor, you'd do:

$this->DB = $arg1;

Then in your query function:

$this->DB->query(...);

This should similarly be done with the other arguments to your constructor.

$this in an instance context is how you reference the current instance. There's also keywords parent:: and self:: to access members of the superclass and static members of the class, respectively.

answered Jan 17, 2010 at 7:39

Crast

16.4k6 gold badges47 silver badges55 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

3 Comments

littleK Over a year ago

That works, thanks for your help! What if I want to do the same thing with non-objects as well? Let's say I want to pass in an integer or a string?

Crast Over a year ago

Works the same way. You can put any fields you want on $this, so long as it's a valid identifier (similar to valid variable names). So you would do $this->name = "somestring"; or $this->name = $name; etc. This is not limited to the constructor, any methods on the class can modify fields on $this.

AntonioCS Over a year ago

Just for the sake of your code's clarity, add this: private $db = null; and then place a comment on it (maybe not really necessary since $db should tell you the purpose of the property) :)

Atli · Accepted Answer · 2010-01-17 10:11:16Z

3

As a side-note...
Even thought this isn't required, it is generally considered best to declare member variables inside the class. It gives you better control over them:

<?php
class test {
    // Declaring the variables.
    // (Or "members", as they are known in OOP terms)
    private $DB;
    protected $ode;
    public $sel;

    function __construct($arg1, $arg2, $arg3) {
      $this->DB = arg1;
      $this->ode = arg2;
      $this->sel = $arg3;
    }

    function query(){
      $this->DB->query(...);
    }
}
?>

See PHP: Visibility for details on the difference between private, protected and public.

answered Jan 17, 2010 at 10:11

Atli

7,9492 gold badges34 silver badges44 bronze badges

Comments

jspcal · Accepted Answer · 2010-01-17 07:40:47Z

1

you can do it pretty easily by storing the argument as a property of the object:

function __construct($arg1, $arg2, $arg3) {
   $this->db = arg1;
}

function f()
{
  $this->db->query(...);
}

answered Jan 17, 2010 at 7:40

jspcal

52k7 gold badges76 silver badges79 bronze badges

Comments

lberezy · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-02 13:21:35Z

1

let's say you have a db object

$db = new db();

and another object:

$object = new object($db);

class object{

    //passing $db to constructor
    function object($db){

       //assign it to $this
       $this-db = $db;

    }

     //using it later
    function somefunction(){

        $sql = "SELECT * FROM table";

        $this->db->query($sql);

    }

}

edited Jan 2, 2014 at 13:21

lberezy

4605 silver badges19 bronze badges

answered Sep 13, 2012 at 5:59

IMoldovean

191 bronze badge

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Passing Objects into PHP constructor error

4 Answers 4

3 Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

4 Answers 4

3 Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related