Question

Take the following code as an example:

class xpto
{
    public function __get($key)
    {
        return $key;
    }
}

function xpto()
{
    static $instance = null;

    if (is_null($instance) === true)
    {
        $instance = new xpto();
    }

    return $instance;
}

echo xpto()->haha; // returns "haha"

Now, I’m trying to archive the same result but without have to write the xpto class. My guess is I should have to write something like this:

function xpto()
{
    static $instance = null;

    if (is_null($instance) === true)
    {
        $instance = new stdClass();
    }

    return $instance;
}

echo xpto()->haha; // doesn't work - obviously

Now, is it possible to add __get() magic functionality to the stdClass object? I guess not, but I’m not sure.

Answer 1

No, it is not possible. You cannot add anything to stdClass. Also, unlike Java, where every object is a direct or indirect subclass of Object, this is not the case in PHP.

class A {};

$a = new A();

var_dump($a instanceof stdClass); // will return false

What are you really trying to achieve? Your question sounds a bit like “I want to close the door of my car, but without having a car” :-).