Variable variables named after constants

Question

I have the following class:

class ClassFoo {

const MY_CONSTANT = "bar";

function __construct() {

    $my_object = new stdClass;

    // This does not work
    $my_object->$ClassFoo::MY_CONSTANT = "foo";

    }

}

I am trying to create a variable of the object $my_object to have a name equal to the constant I've defined (ClassFoo::MY_CONSTANT). The following does not work:

$my_object->$ClassFoo::MY_CONSTANT = "foo";

Nor does this:

$my_object->$constant("ClassFoo::MY_CONSTANT") = "foo";

There must be a simple solution to this but I can't seem to find it!

I don't fully understand what you're trying to do. Do you want access to the constant from outside of the class? — philipobenito, Jan 25 '13 at 17:15
Huh, to my great surprise this does not appear to be a duplicate. Well done! — Lightness Races in Orbit, Jan 27 '13 at 08:10
I end up passing the object elsewhere, but really just want to be able to name a variable of the object after a constant I've defined. — The Salt, Jan 27 '13 at 13:16

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 25 '13 at 17:14

2

<?php 
class ClassFoo {
    const MY_CONSTANT = "bar";

    function __construct() {
        $this->{ClassFoo::MY_CONSTANT} = "foo";
    }
}

$a = new ClassFoo();
var_dump($a);

answered Jan 25 '13 at 17:14

Rawkode

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Tobias · Answer 2 · 2013-01-27T07:54:26.863

-1

You can use the constant in a variable and use that variable as property name:

$propertyName = ClassFoo::MY_CONSTANT;
$this->$propertyName = 'foo';

edited Jan 27 '13 at 07:54

answered Jan 25 '13 at 17:21

Tobias

1,692
12
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So could you please help and explain it, instead of downvoting? – Tobias Jan 30 '13 at 06:41
I don't need to. @Rawkode's accepted answer demonstrates what the OP was after. Your answer demonstrates a related thing that is not quite the same as what was requested in the question. – Lightness Races in Orbit Jan 30 '13 at 07:03

Variable variables named after constants

2 Answers2