Static Method in PHP
Last updated on March 26, 2023
The static method can be directly called through Scope Resolution Operator (::), which means there is no need to create an instance of the class. The static method declares with the static keyword in the class. It can be accessible inside the class through the self keyword, you can’t access it using $this keyword.
Syntax
class YourClassName{
public static function methodName()
{
return "anything...";
}
}Usage
Let’s create a class with a static method to understand how it works.
// create a car class with the static color method
class Car{
public static function color(){
return "red";
}
}
In the above example, we have a car class that has a color method with a static keyword. It simply returns the string that is red, to call it outside of class we need to use the scope resolution operator (::).
// call the static color method
echo Car::color();
// Output: red
Call Static Method Within Class
The static methods are accessible in both static and non-static methods. You can call a static method within a call by using the self keyword. Look at the below example,
class Car{
public static function color(){
return "red";
}
public static function body()
{
$response = self::color();
return $response;
}
}
echo Car::body();
// Output: redIn the above example, we added one more body() method into the Car class. In the new body() method we are accessing the color() method through the self keyword.
Advantages
- You directly use it without creating a class instance.
- The static methods are accessible anywhere in the code.
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