Access Modifiers in PHP

Introduction to Access Modifiers in PHP

Access modifier is a way to set accessibility scope and rights to the variable of any other PHP identifiers. PHP supports various keywords to make any variable to access any variable and the identifiers. We can assign these keywords to the class, function or identifiers. These keywords – public, private, protected, abstract, final, etc.

When to use Access Modifiers in PHP?

PHP has some limitations on its access modifier, unlike Java. We cannot use all the PHP access modifier on the class level, function level, and identifier level. We can use these access modifiers as per our business need to grant permission or revoke permission throughout the program or the application.

Here are the list modifiers and whether it is applicable or not:

Access Modifier	Class Level	Function Level	Variable Level
public	NA	YES	YES
private	NA	YES	YES
protected	NA	YES	YES
abstract	YES	YES	NA
final	YES	YES	NA
Static	NA	YES	YES

In the above tale, NA denotes the Not Applicable. That means we cannot use the public, private and protected on the class level. We can use the abstract and the final only on the class level.

Various Access Modifiers in PHP

Here are the following Access Modifiers in PHP mention below

1. Public access modifier

The public is the default modifier like JAVA in PHP. That means if we do not use any modifier with the functions of the identifiers by default, it is considered as a public access modifier. This is one of the most widely used. As the moment we come to the re-usability of the code of the function, we usually go with the public access modifier. Because the public can be used from anywhere, within the class for sure, outside of the class, in the extended class, and if that public re-usable is not bounded to any class, we can use that anywhere we include the file. As mentioned in the above table, we cannot use this public modifier with the class along with private and protected as well.

Now, it’s time to see the example of the public access modifier:

<?php
class MyAccess {
var $var = "This is first var";
// print var variable value
function returnVar() {
echo $this->var;
}
}
$obj1 = new MyAccess();$obj1->returnVar();
?>

In the above code, the returnVar() function has been defined with no access modifier, so this will work as public as this is the default modifier in the PHP language.

public, private and protected will not be applicable at the class level; let’s see it with an example.

<?php
class public MyAccess {
var $var = "This is first var";
function returnVar() {
echo $this->var;
}
}
$obj1 = new MyAccess();
$obj1->returnVar();
?>

The above code will give an error as mentioned below:

( ! ) Parse error: syntax error, unexpected ‘public’ (T_PUBLIC), expecting identifier (T_STRING) in E:\wamp\www\twit\index.php on line 2

This remains the same for private and protected as well.

<?php
class private  MyAccess {
var $var = "This is first var";
}
?>
<?php
class protected  MyAccess {
var $var = "This is first var";
}
?>

2. Private access modifier

This modifier us the private keyword to process with it.  We cannot use the private modifier with the class. We can use this with the class variables and class methods only (as we have mentioned in the above table). When we declare and use the private, it cannot be accessed using the class’s object. It can only be used within the class.

For Example

<?php
class MyAccess {
var $var = "This is first var";
private $fist_name;
// simple class method
function returnVar() {
echo $this->fist_name;
}
function set_fist_name($set_this){
$this->fist_name = $set_this;
}
}
$obj1 = new MyAccess();
echo $obj1->fist_name; // will give the error
$obj1->set_fist_name("Jai Shre");
$obj1->returnVar();
?>
echo $obj1->fist_name; // will give the error

This line of code we can use as this will come up with the error. This is something we cannot access the private variable using the object of that class. But we can use this by using its setting and the getter method as we are using in the above code.  $obj1->set_fist_name(“Jai Shre”); line of code will set the value in the variable and using $obj1->returnVar(); we can get the value of the set variable.

3. Protected access modifier

Just like public and private, protected itself doesn’t support at the class level. Like a private modifier, protected also restricts the class variables’ access or the function from outside of the class.  It can be used within the same class and from the subclass (child class).

For Example 

<?php
class MyAccess {
var $var = "This is first var";
protected $fist_name;
// simple class method
function returnVar() {
echo $this->fist_name;
}
function set_fist_name($set_this){
$this->fist_name = $set_this;
}
}
class child extends MyAccess {
function setVal($set_this){
$this->fist_name = $set_this;
}
function getVal(){
echo $this->fist_name;
}
}
$obj1 = new child();
//echo $obj1->fist_name; // will give the error
$obj1->setVal("Jai Shre");
$obj1->getVal();
?>

echo $obj1->fist_name; the line of code will give the below error

Output:

Fatal error: Cannot access protected property MyAccess::$fist_name in E:\wamp\www\twit\index.php on line 20

4. Abstract access modifier

It can be used on the class and the function, not on the class variable. If any class has at least one abstract function, then it must be declared as an abstract. We cannot instantiate the abstract class. An abstract class is mainly considered as an incomplete class.

5. Final access modifier

If any class is declared as a final, we cannot extend that class. PHP restricts the final class from being inherited.

6. Static access modifier

The static keyword can be used to make any function as static. It enables that function’s ability so that one can use it within creating an object of that class in which it has been declared. Static method example –

public static function static Function()
{
// declaration goes here..
}

Conclusion

We should always use the access modifier as per the business requirements. Using private and protected, we can restrict the direct use of private variables and private methods from outside of the declared class.

Recommended Articles

This is a guide to Access Modifiers in PHP. Here we discuss the Various Access Modifiers in PHP with the examples and outputs. You may also look at the following article to learn more –

1. Abstract Class in PHP
2. Patterns in PHP
3. PHP Switch Statement
4. Variables in PHP