Static properties are a powerful feature in PHP's object-oriented programming paradigm. They belong to a class rather than instances of that class, making them shared across all objects of the same type.
In PHP, static properties are variables that belong to a class itself, not to any specific instance of the class. They're declared using the static
keyword and can be accessed without creating an object of the class.
To declare a static property, use the static
keyword before the property declaration:
class MyClass {
public static $myStaticProperty = "Hello, World!";
}
Static properties can be accessed using the scope resolution operator (::) and the class name:
echo MyClass::$myStaticProperty; // Outputs: Hello, World!
Static properties are particularly useful for:
Here's an example of using a static property to implement a counter:
class Counter {
public static $count = 0;
public function increment() {
self::$count++;
}
}
$c1 = new Counter();
$c1->increment();
$c2 = new Counter();
$c2->increment();
echo Counter::$count; // Outputs: 2
To deepen your understanding of PHP's object-oriented features, explore these related topics:
By mastering static properties, you'll enhance your ability to create efficient and well-structured PHP applications. Remember to use them judiciously and always consider the design implications in your object-oriented architecture.