PHP __get overload returns array instead of object

Question

Why does this return an array instead of an object and how can I return an object?

Class MyClass {
    private $filename = '...';
    private $_ini_array;

    public function __construct() {
        // Get the config file data
        $ini_array = parse_ini_file( $filename, true );
        $this->_ini_array = $ini_array;
    }

    public function __get( $param ) {
        return $this->_ini_array[ $param ];
    }
}

called by...

$c = new MyClass();
var_dump( $c->db_pgsql );

returns...

array(6) {
  ["data"]=>
  string(4) "test"
  ...

and casting by...

return (object) $this->_ini_array;

returns...

object(stdClass)#2 (6) {
  ["data"]=>
  string(4) "test"
  ...

while I wish to return...

object(MyClass)#2 (6) {
  ["data"]=>
  string(4) "test"
  ...

Many Thanks!

Update. Solved.

I ended up writing the following class that pretty much accomplishes my goals. Please comment if you see any bad habits, sloppy code, etc.

class Config {
    private $config_filename = '../include/config.ini';


    public function __construct( array $array=null ){
        if ( $array ) {
            foreach ( $array as $key => $val ) {
                $this->$key = $val;
            }
        } else {
            $ini_array = parse_ini_file( $this->config_filename, true );

            foreach( $ini_array as $key => $val ){
                $this->$key = new self( $val );
            }
        }
    }


    public function __get( $param ) {
        return $this->$param;
    }
}

Which, with my particular test config file, produces an object that looks like...

VarDump: object(Config)#1 (3) {
    ["config_filename:private"]=>
    string(21) "../include/config.ini"
    ["heading1"]=>
    object(Config)#2 (3) {
        ["config_filename:private"]=>
        string(21) "../include/config.ini"
        ["str1"]=>
        string(4) "test"
        ["str2"]=>
        string(5) "test2"
    }
    ["heading2"]=>
    object(Config)#3 (2) {
        ["config_filename:private"]=>
        string(21) "../include/config.ini"
        ["str1"]=>
        string(9) "testagain"
    }
}

I would have preferred not to have recursively duplicated the ["config_filename:private"] property like it did. But I couldn't conceive a way around it. So if you know of a workaround then I'd appreciate a comment.

Thanks for all the help to get me in the right direction.

When does _ini_array[db_pgsql] get set?

Explosion Pills
– Explosion Pills

2011-11-08 23:07:37 +00:00
Commented Nov 8, 2011 at 23:07 — Explosion Pills
– Explosion Pills, Commented Nov 8, 2011 at 23:07

webbiedave · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-08 23:17:15Z

2

Why does this return an array instead of an object[...]

The only thing I see setting $this->_ini_array is the return value of parse_ini_file, which returns an array (an array of arrays).

how can I return an object?

You'll need to iterate over the pertinent array and populate an object manually.

edited Nov 8, 2011 at 23:17

answered Nov 8, 2011 at 23:12

webbiedave

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3 Comments

Isius Over a year ago

What would be the basic code to do that? I can't figure out how to return anything but a stdClass object.

webbiedave Over a year ago

Just create a new WhatEverClass(), fill it with data and return it.

Isius Over a year ago

I've tried, and failed, for the last four hours to do just that. I cannot seem to convert what I have above to simply produce a class that can return an object representation of an ini file. I think I'm just in over my head. How close am I to being able to convert the array of arrays to object? Thanks a lot.

Mike Purcell · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-08 23:15:07Z

0

According to your code you are parsing an ini file, then returning an element of the resulting array. According to your calling code you are expecting some value to be returned using 'db_pgsql' as the key, which will be a string.

If you want an object you will have to instantiate an object then return it, something like:

class Bar
{
}

class Foo
{

    public function __get($param)
    {
        return new $param();
    }
}

$foo = new Foo();
var_dump($foo->Bar);

answered Nov 8, 2011 at 23:15

Mike Purcell

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