Question

I want to create a function in a class that is available for a set of users, but that they won’t be able to access. Ex:

class Stuff_for_user {
     private $errors;
     /* 
     *  private $errors gets modified by private functions
     */

     public function get_errors(){  // This is for users to display errors.
          return $this->errors;
     }

     /*something here...*/ function set_errors($str){
          $this->errors = $str; 
     }
}

So far so good, but now I want the parent class to be able to set Stuff_for_User‘s errors:

 class Main_mess {
     public index(){ 
          $user_available_data = new  Stuff_for_user();

          if($big_error)
              $user_available_data->set_errors("BIG ERROR!!!"); 

          $this->send_to_users($user_available_data);
     }
}

I want only Main_mess to be able to access Stuff_for_User‘s set_errors() method. Is that possible?

Answer 1

It seems that you are looking for implementation of something called friend class in php. Well .. i’m sorry to tell you this, but it is not possible.

You should look at other possible solutions to your problem.

class SecureContainer{

   protected $user = null;
   protected $target = null;

   public function __construct( $target, $user )
   {
      $this->target = $target;
      $this->user = $user;
   }

   public function __call( $method, $arguments )
   {
      if ( $this->user->isAllowed(getType( $this->target ), $method))
      {
         return call_user_func_array( 
            array( $this->target, $method), $arguments );
      }
   }

}

Use it like this:

$something = new UnsecureSomething;
$user = new User( $uid );
$something = new SecureContainer( $something, $user );

This should let you control the access to methods.