Question

I’m currently facing a problem, I’m writing a code, where I need to use a class inside another class. Currently, I solve the problem this way:

   class foo {
        private $bar;
        function __construct() {
            $this->bar = new different_class();
        }
    }

However, when I need to use more than 1 class, the code gets a bit long and messy. Is there some other way to do this?

My idea would be to make some sort of global class that could be called directly:

class foo{
        function hello(){
            return "Hello";
        }
    }
class bar{
        function hi(){
            return $foo->hello();
        }
    }

Is that possible?
Thank you very much!

Answer 1

As others have mentioned, you have three options:

• Use a static method, which does not require that you instantiate the class.
• Make the second class a child class of the first.
• Instantiate the second class within the first. (This is what you do in your first example above.)

Using the exact example you gave, a static method will work. However, a static method has real limitations – it can only be used to return constants or other static properties.

Therefore, depending on the complexity of the actual classes involved, it’s very likely static may not be a viable option in many cases.

If this is the case, doing exactly what you do in your first example above is the correct option.