PHP Methods

PHP Methods

In PHP, methods are functions that belong to a class. When you create an object-oriented program, you define methods inside a class to perform specific actions on objects.

What is a Method in PHP?

✔ A method is just a function inside a class.
✔ It is used to define behaviors for objects.
✔ Methods can access and modify object properties.
✔ They can have parameters and return values like regular functions.

Defining a Method in a Class

✔ Use the public, private, or protected keyword to define a method.

Example:

class Car {
    public $brand;

    // Method to set the brand
    public function setBrand($name) {
        $this->brand = $name;
    }

    // Method to get the brand
    public function getBrand() {
        return $this->brand;
    }
}

// Creating an object of the class
$myCar = new Car();
$myCar->setBrand("Toyota");

echo $myCar->getBrand(); // Output: Toyota

✔ setBrand() sets the car brand.
✔ getBrand() retrieves the car brand.

Access Modifiers in Methods

✔ public – Can be accessed from anywhere.
✔ private – Can only be accessed inside the class.
✔ protected – Can be accessed within the class and its child classes.

Example of Private Method:

class User {
    private function greet() {
        return "Hello!";
    }

    public function showGreeting() {
        return $this->greet(); // Works because it's inside the class
    }
}

$user = new User();
echo $user->showGreeting(); // Output: Hello
// echo $user->greet(); // ❌ ERROR: Cannot access private method

✔ Private methods can only be called inside the class.

Static Methods

✔ A static method can be called without creating an object.
✔ Use the static keyword.

Example:

class Math {
    public static function add($a, $b) {
        return $a + $b;
    }
}

// Calling the method without creating an object
echo Math::add(5, 10); // Output: 15

✔ Math::add(5, 10) calls the method directly.

Constructor Method

✔ A constructor is a special method that runs automatically when an object is created.
✔ Use the __construct() method.

Example:

class Person {
    public $name;

    public function __construct($name) {
        $this->name = $name;
    }

    public function greet() {
        return "Hello, " . $this->name;
    }
}

$person = new Person("Alice");
echo $person->greet(); // Output: Hello, Alice

✔ The constructor assigns a value to $name automatically when creating an object.

Conclusion

✔ Methods are functions inside classes that define object behavior.
✔ Access modifiers (public, private, protected) control method visibility.
✔ Static methods can be called without creating an object.
✔ Constructors run automatically when an object is created.