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7.12 PHP Static Properties

Static properties can be called directly - without creating an instance of a class.
Static properties are declared with the static keyword:

Syntax

<?php
class ClassName {
  public static $staticProp = "W3Schools";
}
?>

To access a static property use the class name, double colon (::), and the property name:

Syntax

ClassName::staticProp;

Let's look at an example:

Example 1: PHP Static Properties part 1

<?php
class pi {
  public static $value = 3.14159;
}

// Get static property
echo pi::$value;
?>

Example Explained

Here, we declare a static property: $value. Then, we echo the value of the static property by using the class name, double colon (::), and the property name (without creating a class first).

PHP - More on Static Properties

A class can have both static and non-static properties. A static property can be accessed from a method in the same class using the self keyword and double colon (::):

Example 2: PHP Static Properties part 2

<?php
class pi {
  public static $value=3.14159;
  public function staticValue() {
    return self::$value;
  }
}

$pi = new pi();
echo $pi->staticValue();
?>

To call a static property from a child class, use the parent keyword inside the child class:

Example 3: PHP Static Properties part 3

<?php
class pi {
  public static $value=3.14159;
}

class x extends pi {
  public function xStatic() {
    return parent::$value;
  }
}

// Get value of static property directly via child class
echo x::$value;

// or get value of static property via xStatic() method
$x = new x();
echo $x->xStatic();
?>

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Module 7. PHP OOP

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Module 7 quiz

Example files created in this module:
PHP Classes/Objects - Define a Class PHP Classes/Objects - Define Objects part 1 PHP Classes/Objects - Define Objects part 2 PHP Classes/Objects - The $this Keyword part 1 PHP Classes/Objects - The $this Keyword part 2 PHP Classes/Objects - instanceof PHP Constructor part 1 PHP Constructor part 2 PHP Destructor part 1 PHP Destructor part 2 PHP Access Modifiers part 1 PHP Access Modifiers part 2 PHP Inheritance PHP Inheritance - Inheritance and the Protected Access Modifier part 1 PHP Inheritance - Inheritance and the Protected Access Modifier part 2 PHP Inheritance - Overriding Inherited Methods PHP Inheritance - The final Keyword part 1 PHP Inheritance - The final Keyword part 2 PHP Class Constants part 1 PHP Class Constants part 2 PHP Abstract Classes part 1 PHP Abstract Classes part 2 PHP Abstract Classes part 3 PHP Interfaces - Using Interfaces part 1 PHP Interfaces - Using Interfaces part 2 PHP - Using Traits PHP - Using Multiple Traits PHP Static Methods part 1 PHP Static Methods part 2 PHP Static Methods part 3 PHP Static Methods part 4 PHP Static Properties part 1 PHP Static Properties part 2 PHP Static Properties part 3 menu Test (text file for navigating the site) Drop Down Menu PHP Namespaces - Declaring a Namespace PHP Namespaces - Using Namespaces part 1 PHP Namespaces - Using Namespaces part 2 PHP Namespaces - Namespace Alias part 1 PHP Namespaces - Namespace Alias part 2 PHP Iterables - Using Iterables part 1 PHP Iterables - Using Iterables part 2 PHP Iterables - Creating Iterables