I am trying to display an array of messages at the end of my PHP class. My message handler is working, but only if I "add_message" from within the main parent class and not if I call this function from within a child class. Sorry if this is vague but was not sure how to word the question.
TLDR; How can I add a message from within class Example?
MAIN PARENT CLASS
class Init {
public function __construct() {
$this->load_dependencies();
$this->add_messages();
$this->add_msg_from_instance();
}
private function load_dependencies() {
require_once ROOT . 'classes/class-messages.php';
require_once ROOT . 'classes/class-example.php';
}
public function add_messages() {
$this->messages = new Message_Handler();
$this->messages->add_message( 'hello world' );
}
// I Would like to add a message from within this instance....
public function add_msg_from_instance() {
$example = new Example();
$example->fire_instance();
}
public function run() {
$this->messages->display_messages();
}
}
MESSAGE HANDLER
class Message_Handler {
public function __construct() {
$this->messages = array();
}
public function add_message( $msg ) {
$this->messages = $this->add( $this->messages, $msg );
}
private function add( $messages, $msg ) {
$messages[] = $msg;
return $messages;
}
// Final Function - Should display array of all messages
public function display_messages() {
var_dump( $this->messages );
}
}
EXAMPLE CLASS
class Example {
public function fire_instance() {
$this->messages = new Message_Handler();
$this->messages->add_message( 'Hello Universe!' ); // This message is NOT being displayed...
}
}
Because you want to keep the messages around different object, you should pass the object or use a static variable.
I would use a static variable like so:
class Init {
public function __construct() {
$this->load_dependencies();
$this->add_messages();
$this->add_msg_from_instance();
}
private function load_dependencies() {
require_once ROOT . 'classes/class-messages.php';
require_once ROOT . 'classes/class-example.php';
}
public function add_messages() {
// renamed the message handler variable for clarity
$this->message_handler = new Message_Handler();
$this->message_handler->add_message( 'hello world' );
}
// I Would like to add a message from within this instance....
public function add_msg_from_instance() {
$example = new Example();
$example->fire_instance();
}
public function run() {
$this->message_handler->display_messages();
}
}
class Message_Handler {
// use a static var to remember the messages over all objects
public static $_messages = array();
// add message to static
public function add_message( $msg ) {
self::$_messages[] = $msg;
}
// Final Function - Should display array of all messages
public function display_messages() {
var_dump( self::$_messages );
}
}
class Example {
public function fire_instance() {
// new object, same static array
$message_handler = new Message_Handler();
$message_handler->add_message( 'Hello Universe!' );
}
}
// testing...
new Init();
new Init();
$init = new Init();
$init->add_msg_from_instance();
$init->add_msg_from_instance();
$init->add_msg_from_instance();
$init->run();
Although global variables might not be the best design decision, you have at least two approaches to achieve what you want:
Nowadays it is considered anti-pattern, but it is the simplest way: make message handler a singleton:
class MessageHandler
{
private static $instance;
private $messages = [];
public static function instance(): self
{
if (null === self::$instance) {
self::$instance = new self();
}
return self::$instance;
}
private function __construct()
{
}
public function addMessage($message): self
{
$this->messages[] = $message;
return $this;
}
public function messages(): array
{
return $this->messages;
}
}
Then instead of creating a new instance of MessageHandler access it via the static method MessageHandler::instance(). Here is a demo.