Declare and assign variable to an object in PHP/Codeigniter

Question

In codeigniter, I retrieve database results and store it in a variable like the following:

$data['user'] = $this->some_model->get_by_id($id);

Say the above retrieves only the user_id and the user_name, so the variables will be

$data['user']->user_id;

$data['user']->user_name;

Now, say, I want to assign another value (eg. age), can I do the following?

$data['user']->age = '23';

Yes, you can. Its only temporary. The actual database record does not change. — Robert
– Robert, Commented Jul 4, 2012 at 12:36
Thanks. Actually, the age will be calculated in PHP and used just to display it to the user by passing it to the view. I don't need the database record to change. @JohnConde Why is it bad practice? Does it have any adverse affect, besides just being mere bad practice? — WebNovice
– WebNovice, Commented Jul 4, 2012 at 12:44
Assigning values to undeclared object properties is "expensive" in PHP. Plus it is not always clearer to the reader where a value came from so this make code maintenance more difficult. — John Conde
– John Conde, Commented Jul 4, 2012 at 12:47

John Conde · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-04 12:48:16Z

1

Technically, yes, you can. But it's bad practice. Assigning values to undeclared object properties is "expensive" in PHP. Plus it is not always clear to the reader where a value came from so this make code maintenance more difficult.

answered Jul 4, 2012 at 12:48

John Conde

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