Sorting an array using oop - php

Question

The following is a sample array:
array(11, -2, 4, 35, 0, 8, -9)
I would like to use oop to sort it and generate this result:
Output :
Array ( [0] => -9 [1] => -2 [2] => 0 [3] => 4 [4] => 8 [5] => 11 [6] => 35 )
I was provided the solution far below, which works. What I don't understand is what the __construct is doing. I have a beginner's understanding of how constructors work, but what specifically is the purpose of this constructor?:
public function __construct(array $asort)
{
$this->_asort = $asort;
Is it turning the input into an array?
<?php
class array_sort
{
protected $_asort;
public function __construct(array $asort)
{
$this->_asort = $asort;
}
public function alhsort()
{
$sorted = $this->_asort;
sort($sorted);
return $sorted;
}
}
$sortarray = new array_sort(array(11, -2, 4, 35, 0, 8, -9));
print_r($sortarray->alhsort());
?>

Answer 1

It's a reference to the current object, it's most commonly used in object oriented code.
Here is a reference and a longer primer.
The array $asort is assigned to the variable $_asort of the class and take $_asort as a property of the object created.

Answer 2

The __construct() is initialising the protected $_asort;. Essentially moving your array parameter into a class variable, which is then utilised by alhsort().
For clarification, the Input as you said is already an array once you declare array(...) the construct simple copies it into a variable accessible by the entire array_sort class.

Answer 3

This is way too over engineered!
Why do you want to do this oop when you can simply call
$sortarray = sort(array(11, -2, 4, 35, 0, 8, -9));
To answer your question, __construct() is called whenever the object is instantiated new array_sort(array(11, -2)); instantiates the array_sort object.
Your particular constructor is setting the protected property $_asort with the value passed into the first argument $asort.

Answer 4

<?php
class array_sort
{
public $temp;
public function alhsort(array $sorted)
{
for($i=0; $i<count($sorted)-1; $i++){
for($j=$i+1; $j<count($sorted); $j++){
if($sorted[$i] > $sorted[$j]){
$temp = $sorted[$i];
$sorted[$i] = $sorted[$j];
$sorted[$j] = $temp;
}
}
}
return $sorted;
}
}
$sortarray = new array_sort();
print_r($sortarray->alhsort(array(11, -2, 4, 35, 0, 8, -9)));
?>