How to Create and Use Static Classes in PHP

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Kevin Amayi Feb 02, 2024
PHP PHP Class
  1. Create Static Class With Static Variables in PHP
  2. Create Static Class With Static Method in PHP
  3. Create Static Class and Call the Static Method on Another Class in PHP
  4. Create Static Class and Call the Static Method on a Child Class Using the parent Keyword
How to Create and Use Static Classes in PHP

In PHP, a static class is a class that is only instantiated once in a program. It must have a static member (variable), static member function (method), or both.

Create Static Class With Static Variables in PHP

Let’s create a class and initialize four variables. We will then access them using the class name.

 <?php

class Person {

    //intialize static variable
    public static $name = "Kevin";
    public static $age = 23;
    public static $hobby = "soccer";
    public static $books = "HistoryBooks";
}

    // print the static variables
    echo Person::$name .'<br>';
    echo Person::$age .'<br>';
    echo Person::$hobby .'<br>';
    echo Person::$books .'<br>';
?>

Output:

Kevin
23
soccer
HistoryBooks

Create Static Class With Static Method in PHP

We will initialize a method called simpleProfile(). Then call the method using the class name.

 <?php
class Person {
     public static function simpleProfile() {
        echo "I am a programmer and loves reading historical books.";
  }
}

// Call static method
Person::simpleProfile();
?>

Output:

I am a programmer and loves reading historical books.

Create Static Class and Call the Static Method on Another Class in PHP

We call the swahiliMan() method on another class using the class name.

 <?php
class greetings {
    public static function swahiliGreeting() {
      echo "Habari Yako!";
  }
}

class swahiliMan {
    public function greetings() {
      greetings::swahiliGreeting();
  }
}
    $swahiliman1 = new swahiliMan();
    $swahiliman1->greetings();
?>

Output:

Habari Yako!

Create Static Class and Call the Static Method on a Child Class Using the parent Keyword

We instantiate a method with the static variable. After that, call the method using the parent keyword and assign it to a variable on a child class that extends the static class.

class Person {
    protected static function getCountry() {
      return "Australia";
  }
}
// a child class, extends the Person class
class Student extends Person {
    public $country;
    public function __construct() {
      $this->country = parent::getCountry();
  }
}
    $student = new Student;
    echo $student -> country;
?>

Output:

Australia

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