static class methods

[AP81]

Hi guys,

 

I am having a little trouble grasping when to use static methods in a class.  The obvious benefit is for a singleton class, but what benefit is there of using static functions in a class?  Can someone give me a real world example?

 

Thanks.

[puritania]

Static methods are here for processes that don't depend on the object, but still have to be in the class. Example:

 

class TextWriter
{
    private $text;

    public function __construct($text)
    {
        $this->text = (string) $text;
    }

    public function write()
    {
        file_put_contents('bla.txt', self::formatText($this->text));
    }

    private static function formatText($str)
    {
       return trim($str);
    }
}

[Liquid Fire]

another example that might help clear it up

<?php
class user extend base_model
{
   public $id;
   public $username;

   public static function get_all()
   {
      //code to return all users
   }
}

$users = user::get_all();
?>

 

Now even tho the user object stores information, it can be used to store static methods there return multiple user object.

[AP81]

Thanks for clearing that up.