read-only properties in PHP? - php

Question

Is there a way to make a read-only property of an object in PHP? I have an object with a couple arrays in it. I want to access them as I normally would an array
echo $objObject->arrArray[0];
But I don't want to be able to write to those arrays after they're constructed. It feels like a PITA to construct a local variable:
$arrArray = $objObject->getArray1();
echo $arrArray[0];
And anyways, while it keeps the array in the object pristine, it doesn't prevent me from re-writing the local array variable.

Answer 1

Well, the question is where do you want to prevent writing from?
The first step is making the array protected or private to prevent writing from outside of the object scope:
protected $arrArray = array();
If from "outside" of the array, a GETTER will do you fine. Either:
public function getArray() { return $this->arrArray; }
And accessing it like
$array = $obj->getArray();
or
public function __get($name) {
return isset($this->$name) ? $this->$name : null;
}
And accessing it like:
$array = $obj->arrArray;
Notice that they don't return references. So you cannot change the original array from outside the scope of the object. You can change the array itself...
If you really need a fully immutable array, you could use a Object using ArrayAccess...
Or, you could simply extend ArrayObject and overwrite all of the writing methods:
class ImmutableArrayObject extends ArrayObject {
public function append($value) {
throw new LogicException('Attempting to write to an immutable array');
}
public function exchangeArray($input) {
throw new LogicException('Attempting to write to an immutable array');
}
public function offsetSet($index, $newval) {
throw new LogicException('Attempting to write to an immutable array');
}
public function offsetUnset($index) {
throw new LogicException('Attempting to write to an immutable array');
}
}
Then, simply make $this->arrArray an instance of the object:
public function __construct(array $input) {
$this->arrArray = new ImmutableArrayObject($input);
}
It still supports most array like usages:
count($this->arrArray);
echo $this->arrArray[0];
foreach ($this->arrArray as $key => $value) {}
But if you try to write to it, you'll get a LogicException...
Oh, but realize that if you need to write to it, all you need to do (within the object) is do:
$newArray = $this->arrArray->getArrayCopy();
//Edit array here
$this->arrArray = new ImmutableArrayObject($newArray);

Answer 2

If you're using PHP 5+ you can do it with __set() and __get() methods.
You have to define how they work but should do just this.
Edit an example would be like this.
class Example {
private $var;
public function __get($v) {
if (is_array($v)) {
foreach () {
// handle it here
}
} else {
return $this->$v;
}
}
}
This might not be the "best" way of doing it but it'll work depending on what you need

Answer 3

If defined, the magic functions __get() and __set() will be called whenever a non-existing or private property is accessed. This can be used to create "get" and "set" methods for private properties, and for instance make them read-only or manipulate the data when stored or retrieved in it.
For instance:
class Foo
{
private $bar = 0;
public $baz = 4; // Public properties will not be affected by __get() or __set()
public function __get($name)
{
if($name == 'bar')
return $this->bar;
else
return null;
}
public function __set($name, $value)
{
// ignore, since Foo::bar is read-only
}
}
$myobj = new Foo();
echo $foo->bar; // Output is "0"
$foo->bar = 5;
echo $foo->bar; // Output is still "0", since the variable is read-only
See also the manual page for overloading in PHP.

Answer 4

For PHP 8.1+, you can use readonly properties:
class Test
{
public readonly array $arrArray;
public function __construct()
{
$this->arrArray = [1, 2, 3];
}
}
$test = new Test();
var_dump($test->arrArray); // OK
$test->arrArray = [4, 5, 6]; // Error

Answer 5

in the class, do this:
private $array;
function set_array($value) {
$this->array = $value;
}
then you just set like this:
$obj->set_array($new_array);