PHP Object question

Question

Using a very simple set of objects for this example in PHP.

Lets say:

ObjectA:

Properties: DescId;

Methods: getListofData();

ObjectB:

Properties: DescId;DescName;

Methods: getDescNameById();

What I want to know is what is the best way to get the DescName from ObjectB when ObjectA is the one calling the function from within a loop.

I'm thinking that I need to instantiate ObjectB (as New) and then pass in the ObjectA.DescId into the ObjectB.getDescNameById method.

For example:

class objectA { function getListOfData(){ $myObjB= new objectB(); while ... { $myObjB->descId = $row["descId"]; $myDescName = $myObjB->getDescNameById(); ... $i++; } } }

I'm pretty sure the above will work but I'm not sure if it is the right way, or even if there are other ways of doing this. Is there a name for this type of thing? Some one mentioned Lazy Loading. Is that what this is in PHP?

What are these objects supposed to be? Your sample code doesn't quite match up with the description of your intent. i.e. there is no Object A in the sample. — George Marian
– George Marian, Commented Jul 23, 2010 at 20:02
That's a very crucial thing to show in the sample. It makes a huge difference. — George Marian
– George Marian, Commented Jul 23, 2010 at 20:05
This could be combined into one class. I don't even see the purpose of the property DescId if it's coming from a database. In fact, getDescNameById could just be a procedural function, which accepts a descId as a parameter and returns the name. This all depends on the purpose of the classes and how the methods actually operate. — George Marian
– George Marian, Commented Jul 23, 2010 at 20:22

George Marian · Accepted Answer · 2010-07-23 20:06:44Z

Bear in mind that your question needs some expansion.

A class is a recipe. An object is the actual dish made with that recipe.

So, if you need to know how the recipe tastes, you need to actually cook something.

At design time, you're typically thinking about the classes. I.e. When you plan a dinner, you think about what you want to serve, in terms of recipes, not in term of finished dishes. (You don't have the dishes until you cook them.) That said, you may take into account that some recipes are difficult to execute and so a risky proposition to serve.

Does that make it sense?

Some questions to ask yourself about the design:

Do you even need ObjectA, as they both store an id with the same name? (Presumably, they're tied together.)

What's the difference between the two?

Can this be combined into one object?

These depends on what the methods do and what the id actually is.

Fair enough... As you are alluding to I built these objects very closely in design to the table structures. I think you are suggesting I actually design an object to what it is rather than the where the data comes from.
@Jeff Yes, very much so: you are suggesting I actually design an object to what it is rather than the where the data comes from

Jhong · Accepted Answer · 2010-07-24 01:03:15Z

In addition, you should try to assign any required information during class b's constructor.

So:

$myObjB->descId = $row["descId"]; $myDescName = $myObjB->getDescNameById();

Might become:

$myObjB = new Object_B($row["descId"]); $myDescName = $myObjB->get_description();

This helps keep B as self-contained as possible, which is usually one of the goals of OO.

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