CODEWITHSUNDEEP
phpoop
tfont
tfont

Reputation: 11233

Defining a PHP class constant within a function

Is there a way to define a constant within a class function?
Example:

class ExampleApp
{
    const FORM = TRUE;

    public function __construct()
    {
        switch(Base::color())
        {
            case 'green':
                self::FORM = 'G';
                break;
            case 'red':
                self::FORM = 'R';
                break;
            default:
                self::FORM = 'W';
                break;
        }
    }

    public function process() { return TRUE; }
}


The above example code won't work obviously!

From my programming knowledge you can't redefine constants else they would be "constants". But how do you define a costant within a function?! In my example that function being the constructor, or is this entirely not possible?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 4794

Answers (2)

Hayden
Hayden

Reputation: 2112

By saving it in a property. NOT a static property, just a property with getters and setters. 

class ExampleApp
{
    const FORM_COLOR_GREEN = "G";
    const FORM_COLOR_RED = "R";
    const FORM_COLOR_DEFAULT = "W";

    private $form_color;

    public function getFormColor()
    {
        return $this->form_color;

    }

    public function setFormColor( $color )
    {
        $this->form_color = $color;

    }

    public function __construct( $color = NULL )
    {
        switch( $color )
        {
            case 'green':
                $this->setFormColor( self::FORM_COLOR_GREEN );
                break;
            case 'red':
                $this->setFormColor( self::FORM_COLOR_RED );
                break;
            default:
                $this->setFormColor( self::FORM_COLOR_DEFAULT );
                break;
        }
    }

    public function process() { return TRUE; }
}

Then you can get the form colour by calling it with $example_app->getFormColor();

Upvotes: 5

Marko D
Marko D

Reputation: 7576

I think you wanted a static property, not a constant

public static $form = true;

However, don't put variable name in uppercase letters then, since it's not a constant, not to confuse other developers.

You can asccess it like you did in your methods with self::form

Upvotes: 8

Related Questions