Get a static property of an instance - php

Question

If I have an instance in PHP, what's the easiest way to get to a static property ('class variable') of that instance ?
This
$classvars=get_class_vars(get_class($thing));
$property=$classvars['property'];
Sound really overdone. I would expect
$thing::property
or
$thing->property
EDIT: this is an old question. There are more obvious ways to do this in newer
PHP, search below.

Answer 1

You need to lookup the class name first:
$class = get_class($thing);
$class::$property
$property must be defined as static and public of course.

Answer 2

From inside a class instance you can simply use self::...
class Person {
public static $name = 'Joe';
public function iam() {
echo 'My name is ' . self::$name;
}
}
$me = new Person();
$me->iam(); // displays "My name is Joe"

Answer 3

If you'd rather not
$class = get_class($instance);
$var = $class::$staticvar;
because you find its two lines too long, you have other options available:
1. Write a getter
<?php
class C {
static $staticvar = "STATIC";
function getTheStaticVar() {
return self::$staticvar;
}
}
$instance = new C();
echo $instance->getTheStaticVar();
Simple and elegant, but you'd have to write a getter for every static variable you're accessing.
2. Write a universal static-getter
<?php
class C {
static $staticvar = "STATIC";
function getStatic($staticname) {
return self::$$staticname;
}
}
$instance = new C();
echo $instance->getStatic('staticvar');
This will let you access any static, though it's still a bit long-winded.
3. Write a magic method
class C {
static $staticvar = "STATIC";
function __get($staticname) {
return self::$$staticname;
}
}
$instance = new C();
echo $instance->staticvar;
This one allows you instanced access to any static variable as if it were a local variable of the object, but it may be considered an unholy abomination.

Answer 4

classname::property;
I think that's it.

Answer 5

You access them using the double colon (or the T_PAAMAYIM_NEKUDOTAYIM token if you prefer)
class X {
public static $var = 13;
}
echo X::$var;
Variable variables are supported here, too:
$class = 'X';
echo $class::$var;

Answer 6

You should understand what the static property means. Static property or method is not for the objects. They are directly used by the class.
you can access them by
Class_name::static_property_name

Answer 7

These days, there is a pretty simple, clean way to do this.
<?php
namespace Foo;
class Bar
{
public static $baz=1;
//...
public function __toString()
{
return self::class;
}
}
echo Bar::$baz; // returns 1
$bar = new Bar();
echo $bar::$baz; // returns 1
You can also do this with a property in PHP 7.
<?php
namespace Foo;
class Bar
{
public static $baz=1;
public $class=self::class;
//...
}
$bar = new Bar();
echo $bar->class::$baz; // returns 1

Answer 8

class testClass {
public static $property = "property value";
public static $property2 = "property value 2";
}
echo testClass::$property;
echo testClass::property2;