PHP: Setting variable for parent class

Question

I have

class Meat extends Food {
$var = Food::foodFunction…
}

I need to set $var for the Food class, how can I do that?

Thanks

Class Food is undefined in your example. Normally by how extending works, there actually is no class Food, there is only Meat in $this - but that should be no problem because Meat has everything Food has. — hakre
– hakre, Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 13:31
You need to set Food::$var and it is static? If so parent::$var = 'value' otherwise, you cannot set an instance variable for a parent. It merely exists in the child via $this->var — Michael Berkowski
– Michael Berkowski, Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 13:31
Code-Example: codepad.org/bqhtaVoJ , you are probably looking for the parent keyword. — hakre
– hakre, Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 13:38
Extremely unclear and doesn't answer to clarifications requested in the comments. I know it's an old question but -1 — T30
– T30, Commented Oct 24, 2017 at 9:03

Nicola Peluchetti · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-28 14:17:13Z

5

If $var in the food class is a protected / public variable you just do with $this->var, if it's private you can't set it

answered Jun 28, 2012 at 13:31

Nicola Peluchetti

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1 Comment

Beware that if you edit a parent variable, those edits are visible only inside the inherited class. It doesn't make lot of sense.

nickb · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-28 13:30:49Z

2

In the constructor or some other member function by using $this:

function __construct() {
    $this->var = Food::foodFunction();
}

Otherwise, you cannot initialize $var to anything that is not static.

answered Jun 28, 2012 at 13:30

nickb

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