Class questions?? __construct

[thtmal]

Class questions:

• Is it correct that you cannot make the function construct() in a class private, since creating an instance of a class automatically calls the construct function?

• If so, is it also correct that there is not much of a security issue, since the function is mainly to initialize certain properties?

Thnx

[bpat1434]

I believe it can't be "private" but it could be "protected" since it's inherited.

There could be a security issue, if you code one 😉 If you leave the constructor empty, then there will be nothing to be insecure.

What are you trying to accomplish by making the constructor private?

[NogDog]

The __construct() may be private. However, if you want to be able to instantiate a class via the new keyword, then it must be public. If it is not public, then the class cannot be instantiated unless you provide an alternate means to do so via a method that is both public and static, such as is done in the [man]singleton[/man] pattern.

[NogDog]

bpat1434 wrote:

...but it could be "protected" since it's inherited....

Note, however, that if a child class defines its own constructor, then it does not execute its parent's constructor (the child's overwrites the parent's). Therefore, if you want to include the parent class's constructor, you must explicitly call it:

class Example extends MyClass
{
   public function __construct()
   {
      parent::__construct();  // invokes MyClass::__construct()
   }
}

[thtmal]

bpat1434 wrote:

What are you trying to accomplish by making the constructor private?

I just got done learning the oop subject, and was experimenting with different ways a class can or cannot be called.

thnx to all