PHP maintain class state - php

Question

I'd like to have a library class that maintains state across the same request. My use case is that I want to pass 'messages' to the class, and then call them at any time from a view. Messages can be added from any part of the application.
I had originally done this via static methods, which worked fine. However, as part of the lib, I also need to call __construct and __destruct(), which can't be done on a static class.
Here's a very simple example of what I am trying to do:
class Messages
{
private static $messages = array();
public function __construct()
{
// do something
}
public function __destruct()
{
// do something else
}
public static function add($message)
{
self::$messages[] = $message;
}
public static function get()
{
return self::$messages;
}
}
I can then add messages anywhere in my code by doing
Messages::add('a new message');
I'd like to avoid using static if at all possible (testability). I have looked at DI, but it doesn't seem appropriate, unless I'm missing something.
I could create a class (non-static) instead, but how do I then ensure that all messages are written to the same object - so that I can retrieve them all later?
What's the best way to tackle this?

Answer 1

I looks like you could benefit from using the Singleton pattern - it is designed for an object that must have only one instance throughout a request. Basically, you create a private constructor and a static method to retrieve the sole instance. Here is an example of a singleton that will do what you describe.
<?php
class Messages
{
private static $_instance;
private $_messages = array();
private function __construct() {
// Initialize
}
static public function instance() {
if (! self::$_instance) {
self::$_instance = new self();
}
return self::$_instance;
}
public function add_message( $msg ) {
$this->_messages[] = $message;
}
public function get_messages() {
return $this->_messages;
}
private function __destruct() {
// Tear-down
}
}
$my_messages = Messages::instance();
$my_messages->add_message( 'How now, brown cow?' );
// ...
$your_messages = Messages::instance();
$msgs = $your_messages->get_messages();
echo $your_messages[0]; // Prints, "How now, brown cow?"
Since the constructor is private, you can only create a Messages object from within a method of the object itself. Since you have a static method, instance(), you can create a new Messages instance from there. However, if an instance already exists, you want to return that instance.
Basically, a singleton is the gatekeeper to its own instance, and it stubbornly refuses to ever let more than one instance of itself exist.

Answer 2

Sounds like you are wanting to do a Singleton class. This will create an instance in one class and allow you to access that same instance in another class. Check out http://www.developertutorials.com/tutorials/php/php-singleton-design-pattern-050729-1050/ for more information.

Answer 3

How about making it a singleton class?
class Messages
{
// singleton instance of Messages
private static $instance;
public function __construct() { ... }
public static function getInstance()
{
if (!self::$instance)
{
self::$instance = new Messages();
}
return self::$instance;
}
}
This would ensure that all your messages get written to the same object, and also allow you to call __construct and __destruct

Answer 4

What you need is the Singleton pattern:
final class Singleton {
// static variable to store the instance
private static $instance = NULL;
// disable normal class constructing
private function __construct() {}
// instead of using the normal way to construct the class you'll use this method
public static function getInstance() {
if (NULL === self::$instance) {
self::$instance = new self;
}
return self::$instance;
}
// disable external cloning of the object
private function __clone() {}
}
// get the instance across some of your scripts
$singleton = Singleton::getInstance();

Answer 5

Sounds a bit like you want a singleton, although as an anti-pattern I'd avoid it.
You could do a full static class where every static member calls a self::_isBuilt(); method to do your construct elements. Destruct is a little trickier.
The best case for your needs might be a normal (non-static) class that you build right away and then access from a global... not super neat, but allows construct/destruct and members, and your statics to use $this which could be helpful. If you don't like the global variable, you could also wrap it in a method (a trick used in JS a fair bit) but it's not really any neater.
As a normal global class:
$myClass=new myClass();
//Access anywhere as:
globals['myClass']->myFunction(..);
Wrapped in a function
function my_class() {
static $var=null;
if ($var===null) $var=new myClass();
return $var;
}
//Access anywhere as:
my_class()->myFunction(..);