basic oo question ;]

[alpha_juno]

Hi guys,

I'm just getting started with OO and everything is going well. I have a question though.

I'm starting to use 2 classes. One db abstraction layer that I'm build as I work.

And a second class that contains alot of the custom methods for the site I'm building.

I have a method in the db abstraction layer that I wish to use inside a method of the second class. How do i reference it. I'm using php 4.

Thanks for any help,

Jim.

[vaaaska]

$db = new DatabaseClass;

Class OtherClass 
{

  var $database;

  function OtherClass()
  {
      global $db;
      $this->database = $db;
  }

  function or_perhaps()
  {
      global $db;
  }

}

[alpha_juno]

Thanks a million vaaaska the first technique worked a treat ;] ;] ;]

[NogDog]

I usually do something like this:

Example.class.php:

<?php
// include other class if not already included:
require_once "Database.class.php";

// Example class:
class Example
{
   // ATTRIBUTES:
   var $db;  // database object

   // METHODS:

   // Constructor:
   function Example()
   {
      $this->db = new Database();
   }

   // rest of methods can now reference $this->db whenever they need DB methods
}
?>

[vaaaska]

I only see the need for a single connection...so I just 'global' it in. I could have said more, but this is the most straightforward approach.

[NogDog]

vaaaska wrote:

I only see the need for a single connection

In what way does my technique create multiple connections? (Unless the constructor of the Database class's constructor does a connection -- but that's probably not good o-o design).

...so I just 'global' it in. I could have said more, but this is the most straightforward approach.

I hate globals...they always seem to cause more maintenance problems down the road than whatever time they might save in initial coding. But if it works for you and you can maintain it, then more power to you. 🙂