CODEWITHSUNDEEP
phpclassvariables
Alex
Alex

Reputation: 1385

complex variable names inside classes

I noticed that some people use variable names like these inside their classes:

private $_some_long_name_;

public static $_____foo___;

Why?

Shoudn't these variables be able to be accessed only trough class::variable, $this->variable or self::variable ? So you can't have a conflict between between them and other variables with the same name, right?

Upvotes: 1

Views: 258

Answers (3)

staticsan
staticsan

Reputation: 30555

It's probably a habit from coding in earlier versions of PHP or even in other languages where the scope rules are more flexible.

Classes in PHP 4 supported neither private instance variables nor static variables. It was common for programmers to come up with naming conventions to help manage this. For the same reason, some programmers always prefix an underscore to all instance variables, even though it's not necessary.

Upvotes: 2

Phil
Phil

Reputation: 164742

Class property names match the same format restrictions of regular variables.

See http://www.php.net/manual/en/language.variables.basics.php

In relation to your question, people can name their class properties however they like however property names within the same class must be unique.

Upvotes: 1

Edgar Villegas Alvarado
Edgar Villegas Alvarado

Reputation: 18344

Because they don't want to confuse both variables accidentally. However, you're right, it's not necessary

Upvotes: 1

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