Static references to the current class like self:: or __CLASS__ are resolved using the class in which the function belongs, as in where it was defined:
<?php class A { public static function who() { echo __CLASS__; } public static function test() { self::who(); } } class B extends A { public static function who() { echo __CLASS__; } } B::test(); ?>
The above example will output:
A
Late static bindings tries to solve that limitation by introducing a keyword that references the class that was initially called at runtime. Basically, a keyword that would allow you to reference B from test() in the previous example. It was decided not to introduce a new keyword but rather use static that was already reserved.
<?php class A { public static function who() { echo __CLASS__; } public static function test() { static::who(); // Here comes Late Static Bindings } } class B extends A { public static function who() { echo __CLASS__; } } B::test(); ?>
The above example will output:
B
Note:
In non-static contexts, the called class will be the class of the object instance. Since $this-> will try to call private methods from the same scope, using static:: may give different results. Another difference is that static:: can only refer to static properties.
<?php class A { private function foo() { echo "success!\n"; } public function test() { $this->foo(); static::foo(); } } class B extends A { /* foo() will be copied to B, hence its scope will still be A and * the call be successful */ } class C extends A { private function foo() { /* original method is replaced; the scope of the new one is C */ } } $b = new B(); $b->test(); $c = new C(); $c->test(); //fails ?>
The above example will output:
success! success! success! Fatal error: Call to private method C::foo() from context 'A' in /tmp/test.php on line 9
Late static bindings' resolution will stop at a fully resolved static call with no fallback. On the other hand, static calls using keywords like parent:: or self:: will forward the calling information.
<?php class A { public static function foo() { static::who(); } public static function who() { echo __CLASS__."\n"; } } class B extends A { public static function test() { A::foo(); parent::foo(); self::foo(); } public static function who() { echo __CLASS__."\n"; } } class C extends B { public static function who() { echo __CLASS__."\n"; } } C::test(); ?>
The above example will output:
A C C
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