Question

I have two classes, Database and User. In the Database class I have function to connect to the database. I am wanting to be able to have a connection to the database within the User class. This is what I am currently doing in the User Class:

class User {

    function __construct() 
    {
        require_once 'database.class.php';
        $DBH = new Database();
        $DBH->connect();
    }

    function register_user()
    {
        $DBH->prepare('INSERT INTO users VALUES (:username, :password, :forename, :surname)');
        $DBH->execute(array(':username' => 'administrator', ':password' => '5f4dcc3b5aa765d61d8327deb882cf99', ':forename' => 'Richie', ':surname' => 'Jenkins'));
    }
}

I get the following error:

PHP Fatal error: Call to a member
function prepare() on a non-object

Answer 1

You should read about “scope.” $DBH is only declared locally in __construct().

Rectifying this is easy. Simply add

class User {
   private $DBH;

and wherever you have $DBH change to $this->DBH. May help to read about $this and member variables as well.