Question

What’s a more correct way to call a parent classes functions? parent:: or $this-> ?

class base{

    public function get_x(){
        return 'x'; 
    }
}

class child extends base{

    public function __construct(){
        //this?
        $x = parent::get_x();
        //or this?
        $x = $this->get_x();
    } 

}

Thanks!

Answer 1

There is no “more correct” synthax because they have their own sense.

$this-> means “the current object”, so if a method is overriden, this is that method you would call.

parent:: means “the parent’s behaviour”. It is useful when you override a methode and you want to add something to parent’s behaviour.

So, if somewhere in your class child you override the get_x method and you want the parent’s behaviour only, use parent:: if not, use $this.

I would make an end to this answer by saying it is often advised not to call a not final method in a constructor as anyone can redefine the behaviour by extending it.