get_parent_class

Retrieves the parent class name for object or class.

The tested object or class name. This parameter is optional if called from the object's method.

Returns the name of the parent class of the class of which object is an instance or the name.

Note:

If the object does not have a parent or the class given does not exist FALSE will be returned.

If called without parameter outside object, this function returns FALSE.

If called without parameter outside object, this function would have returned NULL with a warning, but now returns FALSE.

<?php

class dad {
    function dad()
    {
    // implements some logic
    }
}

class child extends dad {
    function child()
    {
        echo "I'm " , get_parent_class($this) , "'s son\n";
    }
}

class child2 extends dad {
    function child2()
    {
        echo "I'm " , get_parent_class('child2') , "'s son too\n";
    }
}

$foo = new child();
$bar = new child2();

?>

I'm dad's son
I'm dad's son too

get_class() -

is_subclass_of() -