Question

I am using PHP Version 5.2.5.
I want to be able to compare my own class with int.

abstract class A {

private $value;

    public function __construct($value)
    {
         $this->value = $value;
    }

public function __toString()
{
        return $this->value;
}

}

class B extends A { }

but I want to be able to use my class like this:

$inst = new B(20);
if($inst==20) {
    //...
}

how I can do it?

Answer 1

You could use a magic __toString() method in your class.

class A 
{ 
    private $value; 

    public function __construct($value)
    {
        $this->value = $value;
    }
    public function __toString() 
    { 
        return (string) $this->value;
    } 

}

$inst = new A(20);  
if((string) $inst==20) {  
    //...  
}

Technically, __toString() must return a string rather than an integer, but PHP’s loose typing will make the comparison using standard loose typing comparison rules