PHP abstract class does not affect the child of its child - php

Question

I have an abstract class that declares the methods required to its children. It also has a construstor that its children inherits. How can I make the abstract class affect the children of the classes that extends it. To further clarify my question, here is my case:
The Abstract Class (abstract.php):
<?php
include_once 'database.php';
include_once 'validation.php';
abstract class DataOperations extends DatabaseConnection {
//The error string shared by all children of DataOperations
//This will be the message to be displayed in case validation failure
public $validator;
public $err_valid_string;
/**
* The DataOperations' constructor ensures that all of its children can perform database operation
* by automatically starting it for them. In case a child overrides this constructor, this child
* must explicitly start the connection to prevent fatal errors. Also, $validator must be re-instantiated
*/
public function __construct() {
$this->startDBConnection();
$this->validator = new InputValidator();
}
public function __destruct() {
}
abstract public function validateData();
abstract public function loadRecord($key, $cascade);
abstract public function saveRecord();
abstract public function updateRecord();
abstract public function deleteRecord();
}
?>
Now, here is the child object that extends the DataOperations abstract class
class Guest extends DataOperations {
//some properties here
public function validateData() {
//implementation
}
public function newRecord(implementation) {
//implementation
}
public function loadRecord($key, $cascade){
//implementation
}
public function saveRecord() {
//implementation
}
public function updateRecord() {
//implementation
}
public function deleteRecord() {
//implementation
}
}
?>
And here is another class, which is a child of Guest
class Booking extends Guest {
//some properties here
public function validateData() {
//implementation
}
public function newRecord(implementation) {
//implementation
}
public function loadRecord($key, $cascade){
//implementation
}
public function saveRecord() {
//implementation
}
public function updateRecord() {
//implementation
}
public function deleteRecord() {
//implementation
}
}
?>
The problem is, if I remove a method in Booking, say deleteRecord(), PHP won't throw an error because I think abstract class doesn't affect its 'grandchildren'. How can I fix this? I thought of using interfaces but my system already has 11 classes that depends to some methods of the abstract class. It will require intensive refactoring.

Answer 1

As you himself stated interface is best suited solution. Like
include_once 'database.php';
include_once 'validation.php';
interface DbInterface {
abstract public function validateData();
abstract public function loadRecord($key, $cascade);
abstract public function saveRecord();
abstract public function updateRecord();
abstract public function deleteRecord();
}
class DataOperations extends DatabaseConnection {
//The error string shared by all children of DataOperations
//This will be the message to be displayed in case validation failure
public $validator;
public $err_valid_string;
/**
* The DataOperations' constructor ensures that all of its children can perform database operation
* by automatically starting it for them. In case a child overrides this constructor, this child
* must explicitly start the connection to prevent fatal errors. Also, $validator must be re-instantiated
*/
public function __construct() {
$this->startDBConnection();
$this->validator = new InputValidator();
}
public function __destruct() {
}
}
class Guest extends DataOperations implements DbInterface {
- - -
}
class Booking extends Guest implements DbInterface {
- - -
}
First as you see I removed abstract from parent class as I assuming only those methods are abstract. Second as per your problem of 11 classes depend on Abstract class, I would say As you only remove abstract methods, Class implementing abstract methods now should implement interface. It is one time needed task. While classes using other normal methods of abstract class work like previous.

Answer 2

The best and cleanest way would be to have your "BOOKING" class extend the "DATAOPERATIONS" class, instead of GUEST, because looks like you don't have any extra methods in the BOOKING class. other wise make and interface and implement it. That is not the preferred way but you would have to give more info your situation.

Answer 3

To be clear, re-declaring a method in a child class will overwrite the parent class's implementation of that method when called from the child class, while not affecting any additional functionality provided by extending the parent class:
class a
{
function hello()
{
echo "Hello";
}
function goodbye()
{
echo "Goodbye";
}
}
/**
* class b overwrites class a's implementation of method goodbye but will retain
* it's definition for method hello
*/
class b extends a
{
function goodbye()
{
echo "See ya!";
}
}
$object = new b();
$object->hello(); // Hello
$object->goodbye();// See ya!
It appears that you want to implement a consistent interface across multiple class definitions. If this is the case, you will likely want to explore using PHP's interfaces.
These allow you to specify the methods that must exist in your class definition along with their set of arguments (collectively known as the signature). Your class definitions will implement an interface and if your definition does not meet the interface implementation specification, a fatal error will be thrown.
From the PHP manual:
// Declare the interface 'iTemplate'
interface iTemplate
{
public function setVariable($name, $var);
public function getHtml($template);
}
// Implement the interface
// This will work
class Template implements iTemplate
{
private $vars = array();
public function setVariable($name, $var)
{
$this->vars[$name] = $var;
}
public function getHtml($template)
{
foreach($this->vars as $name => $value) {
$template = str_replace('{' . $name . '}', $value, $template);
}
return $template;
}
// This will not work
// Fatal error: Class BadTemplate contains 1 abstract methods
// and must therefore be declared abstract (iTemplate::getHtml)
class BadTemplate implements iTemplate
{
private $vars = array();
public function setVariable($name, $var)
{
$this->vars[$name] = $var;
}
}
You can find more information about interface in the PHP manual:
http://us2.php.net/interface
Finally, it looks like you are hoping to define a common constructor for the child classes. Your child classes can both extend the DataOperations class while implementing a separate interface:
class Guest extends DataOperations implements DatabaseWriter
...