Static method that calls itself on an object

Question

I want to have a class that i can use it this way:

Thing::doThis()->doThat()->doImportantThing();

OR

Thing::doThat()->doImportantThing();

OR

Thing::doImportantThing();

But currently i can only use it this way:

$thing = new Thing(); $thing->doThis()->doThat()->doImportantThing();

What do i have to change in the class so i can use it the way i want? I already return a Thing instance in every function call.

I want to use that for a simple reason, imagine a mail class, in the constructor you define a default from and to, but you might want to change it, so you do Mail::setFrom()->send(). If you want to change the to, you use Mail::setTo()->send(). It just makes it easier to use if it's going to be used in different projects by different people.

I want by calling Mail::{something} to have like a constructor call and then run the {something} function.

@Sami Thank you, but that question partially helps, but what i want to achieve, by that example, is avoid the getInstance() call. — Michel Tomé
– Michel Tomé, Commented Sep 2, 2014 at 11:35
The real answer to this question is to tell you to stop using static methods. — PeeHaa
– PeeHaa, Commented Sep 2, 2014 at 11:50
Well for one because you need an instance here (in any sane setup). More important it most likely produces tightly coupled code, hides dependencies, is a maintenance and debugging nightmare and kills testability. — PeeHaa
– PeeHaa, Commented Sep 2, 2014 at 11:54

php_nub_qq · Accepted Answer · 2014-09-02 11:40:41Z

3

You can do this

class Thing { public static function __callStatic($name, $arguments){ $thing = new self; return $thing->$name($arguments); } public function __call($name, $arguments){ return $this->$name($arguments); } private function doThis(){ echo 'this'.PHP_EOL; return $this; } private function doThat(){ echo 'that'.PHP_EOL; return $this; } private function doImportantThing(){ echo 'Important'.PHP_EOL; return $this; } } Thing::doThis()->doThat(); Thing::doThat()->doImportantThing();

It is a really ugly work-around, though. And it disables you to have private methods.

DEMO

edited Sep 2, 2014 at 11:40

answered Sep 2, 2014 at 11:27

php_nub_qq

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6 Comments

Michel Tomé Over a year ago

I want to use that for a simple reason, imagine a mail class, in the constructor you define a default from and to, but you might want to change it, so you do Mail::setFrom()->send(). If you want to change the to, you use Mail::setTo()->send(). It just makes it easier to use if it's going to be used in different projects by different people.

Tibor B. Over a year ago

So you would like to do method chaining, or just static calling?

php_nub_qq Over a year ago

@MichelTomé why not just pass optional parameters to the send() method?

Michel Tomé Over a year ago

Both, it's kind of hard to explain... I want by calling Mail::{something} to have like a constructor call and then run the {something} function

georg Over a year ago

@MichelTomé: I added your explanations to the question, I think it's clearer now.

|

George G · Accepted Answer · 2014-09-02 12:00:28Z

One great thing for static methods is that they can work in object context, and can be called like this: $instance->staticMethod()

Here it is (even you get code completion in ide, and works as axpected as you want):

class Mail { public static $from; public static $to; public static $subject; public static $message; protected static $onlyInstance; protected function __construct () { // disable creation of public instances } protected static function getself() { if (static::$onlyInstance === null) { static::$onlyInstance = new Mail; } return static::$onlyInstance; } /** * set from * @param string $var * @return \Mail */ public static function from($var) { static::$from = $var; return static::getself(); } /** * set to * @param string $var * @return \Mail */ public static function to($var) { static::$to = $var; return static::getself(); } /** * set subject * @param string $var * @return \Mail */ public static function subject($var) { static::$subject = $var; return static::getself(); } /** * set message * @param string $var * @return \Mail */ public static function message($var) { static::$message = $var; return static::getself(); } public static function send() { echo "<pre><b>Hurrah mail sent</b>" . "\nFrom:\t ".static::$from."" . "\nTo:\t ".static::$to." " . "\nSubject: ".static::$subject."" . "\nMessage: ".static::$message; echo "</pre>"; } }

Example usage:

Mail::from('george@garcha') ->to('michel@tome') ->subject('hehe works') ->message('your welcome') ->send();

Output

Hurrah mail sent From: george@garcha To: michel@tome Subject: hehe works Message: your welcome

Example 2 (this also works):

 Mail::from('george@garcha') ->to('michel@tome'); Mail::subject('hehe works') ->message('your welcome') ->send();

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