PHP - Protected/Abstract method to use class declared in child class - php

Question

I have an abstract class, in which I want to call method, from a class that is declared in the child (extending) class. An example looks like this:
The abstract class:
abstract class NumberGenerator
{
protected function generate($input){
return MyClass::MyMethod($input);
}
}
My child/extending class:
use TomsFolder\MyClass;
use MyFolder\NumberGenerator;
class TomsNumberGenerator extends NumberGenerator
{
public function generate(string $applicantId): string
{
return $this->generate();
}
}
Another child/extending class:
use DavesFolder\MyClass;
use MyFolder\NumberGenerator;
class DavesNumberGenerator extends NumberGenerator
{
public function generate(string $applicantId): string
{
return $this->generate();
}
}
So I want to call MyClass::MyMethod in NumberGenerator. However it is only imported in TomsNumberGenerator.
The reason I want to do it like is because, I have classes like DavesNumberGenerator which calls a different MyClass.
When I try this, I get 'MyClass is not found in NumberGenerator'. Is there any way to make this work?

Answer 1

Try putting the namespace use statement before the actual class:
NumberGenerator.php
use MyFolder\MyClass;
abstract class NumberGenerator
{
protected function generate($input){
return MyClass::MyMethod($input);
}
}
EDIT
Try this:
NumberGenerator.php
abstract class NumberGenerator
{
protected function generate($class_name, $input){
return call_user_func($class_name . '::MyMethod', $input);
}
}
TomsNumberGenerator.php
use TomsFolder\MyClass;
use MyFolder\NumberGenerator;
class TomsNumberGenerator extends NumberGenerator
{
public function generate(string $applicantId): string
{
return $this->generate(get_class(new MyClass()), $applicantId);
}
}

Answer 2

You have to use interface for this.
You can do the following
Create MyClassInterface
interface MyClassInterface {
public function MyMethod();
}
Implement this interface in some classes
class MyClass1 implements MyClassInterface {
public function MyMethod() {
// implementation
}
}
class MyClass2 implements MyClassInterface {
public function MyMethod() {
// implementation 2
}
}
Add abstract method to NumberGenerator
abstract class NumberGenerator {
abstract protected function GetMyClass(): MyClassInterface;
protected function generate($input){
return $this->GetMyClass()->MyMethod($input);
}
}
Implement GetMyClass function inside child classes
class TomsNumberGenerator extends NumberGenerator
{
protected function GetMyClass(): MyClassInterface {
return new MyClass1();
}
}
class DavesNumberGenerator extends NumberGenerator
{
protected function GetMyClass(): MyClassInterface {
return new MyClass2();
}
}
PS If you want to use static, you can change abstract inside NumberGenerator class, to change string. In this case, your generate will look like this:
protected function generate($input){
return call_user_func($this->GetMyClass() . '::MyMethod', [$input]);
}