


Explain the difference between self::, parent::, and static:: in PHP OOP.
Apr 09, 2025 am 12:04 AMIn PHP OOP, self:: refers to the current class, parent:: refers to the parent class, static:: is used for late static binding. 1. self:: is used for static method and constant calls, but does not support late static binding. 2. parent:: is used for subclasses to call parent class methods, and private methods cannot be accessed. 3. static:: supports late static binding, suitable for inheritance and polymorphism, but may affect code readability.
introduction
In PHP object-oriented programming (OOP), it is crucial to understand the difference between self::
, parent::
, and static::
. These keywords play different roles when dealing with classes and objects, and mastering them can help you write and maintain code more efficiently. By reading this article, you will learn how to use these keywords correctly in different scenarios and understand the principles and best practices behind them.
Review of basic knowledge
Before digging into these keywords, let's review some of the basic concepts of PHP OOP. PHP's classes and objects are the core of OOP. Classes define a set of properties and methods, while objects are instances of classes. In classes, we often need to refer to the class itself, the parent class, or the current context, which is where self::
, parent::
, and static::
come into play.
Core concept or function analysis
Definition and function of self::
self::
keyword is used to refer to the current class itself. It is often used for calls to static methods and constants. For example, if you need to call another static method inside a class or access a static property, you can use self::
.
class MyClass { public static function myMethod() { echo "This is myMethod"; } public static function anotherMethod() { self::myMethod(); // Call myMethod in the same class } }
The advantage of self::
is that it explicitly references the current class, which is very useful in static contexts. However, its limitation is that it cannot be used for Late Static Bindings because it always points to the class that defines it, not the class that calls it.
Definition and function of parent::
parent::
keyword is used to refer to parent class. It is used in subclasses to call the parent class's methods or access the parent class's properties. For example, if you want to call the parent class's method in a subclass, you can use parent::
.
class ParentClass { public function myMethod() { echo "This is ParentClass's myMethod"; } } class ChildClass extends ParentClass { public function myMethod() { parent::myMethod(); // Call the parent class's myMethod echo "This is ChildClass's myMethod"; } }
The advantage of parent::
is that it allows you to override the methods of the parent class while still having access to the implementation of the parent class. However, it should be noted that if the parent class's method is private, the child class will not be able to access it using parent::
.
Definition and Function of static::
static::
keyword is used for late static binding. It refers to the class that calls it, not the class that defines it. This makes it very useful in static methods, especially in inheritance and polymorphic scenarios.
class ParentClass { public static function myMethod() { echo "This is ParentClass's myMethod"; } } class ChildClass extends ParentClass { public static function myMethod() { echo "This is ChildClass's myMethod"; } public static function anotherMethod() { static::myMethod(); // The call is myMethod of ChildClass } }
The advantage of static::
is that it provides greater flexibility to dynamically decide which class of methods to call at runtime. However, this can also lead to a decrease in readability and maintainability of the code, as calls to static contexts may be less intuitive.
Example of usage
Basic usage
Let's look at some basic usage examples:
class MyClass { public static $myProperty = "Hello, World!"; public static function myMethod() { echo self::$myProperty; } } MyClass::myMethod(); // Output "Hello, World!"
class ParentClass { public function myMethod() { echo "ParentClass"; } } class ChildClass extends ParentClass { public function myMethod() { parent::myMethod(); echo " ChildClass"; } } $child = new ChildClass(); $child->myMethod(); // Output "ParentClass ChildClass"
class ParentClass { public static function myMethod() { echo "ParentClass"; } } class ChildClass extends ParentClass { public static function myMethod() { echo "ChildClass"; } public static function anotherMethod() { static::myMethod(); } } ChildClass::anotherMethod(); // Output "ChildClass"
Advanced Usage
In more complex scenarios, these keywords can help you achieve a more flexible code structure. For example, in design patterns, static::
can be used to implement singleton patterns:
class Singleton { private static $instance; protected function __construct() {} public static function getInstance() { if (null === static::$instance) { static::$instance = new static(); } return static::$instance; } } class ConcreteSingleton extends Singleton {} $singleton1 = ConcreteSingleton::getInstance(); $singleton2 = ConcreteSingleton::getInstance(); var_dump($singleton1 === $singleton2); // Output bool(true)
Common Errors and Debugging Tips
Common errors when using these keywords include:
- When using
self::
, it mistakenly thought that it would perform late static binding, resulting in the incorrect class method being called. - When using
parent::
in a subclass, forgetting that the parent class method may be privatized, resulting in inaccessibility. - When using
static::
, the code readability decreases and it is difficult to trace the actual calling classes.
Methods to debug these problems include:
- Use the IDE's debugging tool to view the call stack and confirm the actual calling classes and methods.
- Add logs or debug information to the code to help track execution flow.
- Read the PHP documentation carefully to understand the specific behavior and limitations of these keywords.
Performance optimization and best practices
In terms of performance optimization, self::
and parent::
usually do not cause significant performance differences, because they already determine the calling class at compile time. However, static::
may have some performance overhead due to the need for late static binding at runtime.
Best practices include:
- In static contexts, try to use
self::
orstatic::
instead of directly using class names, which can improve the maintainability of the code. - In subclasses, if you need to call the parent class method,
parent::
is preferred, so that the intent can be expressed explicitly. - In design patterns or scenarios where late static binding is required, use
static::
, but pay attention to the readability and maintainability of the code.
By understanding and using self::
, parent::
, and static::
, you can better grasp the essence of PHP OOP and write more efficient and easier to maintain code.
The above is the detailed content of Explain the difference between self::, parent::, and static:: in PHP OOP.. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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