How to set a variable within a class, then access/refer to it? PHP

Question

<?php

class foo
{
    public $a;

    public function __construct()
    {
        $a='value';
    }

}

$class = new foo();
echo $class->$a;

?>

I want to use the value $a in other parts of my script.

How do I retrieve a variable set in a php object and use it for other things outside of the object?

Tons of good advice/examples on the PHP documentation: http://php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.php — Jasper, Aug 02 '13 at 16:31

rid · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-02T16:37:03.920

2

To set the value inside a method, the syntax is:

$this->a = 'value';

To obtain the value of the property from an instance of the class, the syntax is:

$foo = new foo();
echo $foo->a;

The Properties manual page goes into more detail.

edited Aug 02 '13 at 16:37

answered Aug 02 '13 at 16:31

rid

Another way `$string = "a";` then `$this->$string = "value";` – Logan Murphy Aug 02 '13 at 16:33

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:25

2

I'd recommend using a getter (see):

Inside your class.

private $a;

public function getA()
{
    return $this->a;
}

Outside your class.

$class = new foo();
echo $class->getA();

Important: Inside your class you should refer to $a as $this->a.

edited May 23 '17 at 10:25

Community

answered Aug 02 '13 at 16:34

federico-t

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 02 '13 at 16:30

1

Use $this variable to assign and reference instance variables and functions on the current object.

In your case replace $a = 'value'; with $this->a = 'value';

answered Aug 02 '13 at 16:30

vee

3 Answers3