What's the point of __set and __get?

[LemonInflux]

Just a quick question, I was wondering what the difference is between $class->_var = true; (private var) and just using $class->var = true; (public var) without __set or __get?

[redbullmarky]

using __set and __get magic methods can have all sorts of nice uses. personally i use it for 'models'. So:

 

<?php
class User
{
   private $data = array(); // holds user record data

   public function __set($varname, $value) {
      $this->data[$varname] = $value;
   }

   public function __get($varname) {
      return isset($this->data[$varname]) ? $this->data[$varname] : null;
   }
}

$user = new User();

$user->email = '[email protected]'; // sets User::$data['email']
?>

 

this way, i know that the $data property ONLY holds info about the user, not tonnes of other unrelated properties.

You can also use these magic setters and getters to control what can or cannot be set from outside the class - ie, enforcing a certain way of using your class.

[keeB]

__set and __get methods are mainly used for open ended data structures, and generally breaks encapsulation (because every class property is now essentially public.) As you can see, the main draw back is the developer using your API can add properties to a class at their leisure.