You're right, AFAIK.
IMO, it might be more useful (and follow a more expected
format) if var $myVar _did_ initialize the variable and if
you try to use a variable that isn't explicitly defined in
the class throw an error...
But that's not the way it is...
-Toby
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2001 3:31 PM
Subject: Re: Re[2]: [PHP] declaring variables in class
definitions
> Hi Toby,
>
>
> >This isn't really aesthetics as much as it is
organization.
>
> >You already know that you don't have to declare PHP
> >variables... if I had a one-line script that simply said:
> ><?php echo $myVar++ ?>
> >I would end up with 1 as the output. myVar would be
created
> >as soon as PHP encountered it (it would be empty,
however),
> >and with the ++ the variable would be type-casted to a
> >numeric type (yeilding 0) and 1 would be added. Thus you
get
> >1 as your output.
>
> >Likewise, if you reference a non-existant variable that
is
> >within a class, PHP initializes the variable with an
empty
> >value. You're going to end up with a variable, not an
error,
> >whether it's explicitly defined in the class or not.
>
> Defining variables with (var $myVar;) in a class does not
> initialize that variable in any way. It still does
> not exist in any way whatsoever, period. I repeat,
> var $myVar; does NOT set the varable
>
>
> If the variable was set I could see a reason for the
> defining, but because the variable is not set and does not
exist,
> after (var $myVar;), there is no reaon for this other that
commenting
> your code as you said.
>
> But on the otherhand if php is just showing us a way to
define default
> values for variables outside of class methods like (var
$myVar = "somevalue";)
> which ofcource works , thats just fine, but just sticking
(var $myVar;)
> in there is just useless.
>
>
> >However, here's why it's not just aesthetics:
>
> >If you have a lot of code to go through, organization is
> >important. If you declare a class and only define some
> >functions (without explicitly defining variables with var
> >$myVar, etc.), you could very well end up wondering what
> >variable is what and whether a variable exists, etc. It
> >wouldn't be too hard to stray from the right path and end
up
> >with half of your variables misnamed.
>
> In each method of the class you still have to reference
the object
> variables with a $this->myVar, whether the $myVar is
deifined
> in the class with (var $myVar;) or not ( unless you are
wanting
> to use a variable local to the method ofcource which is
another matter ).
> So declaring (var $myVar;) in the class will not stop you
from missnameing
> variables and also defining (var $myVar;) does not set the
> variable, in fact the variable still does not exist in
anyway whatsoever.
>
> I hope you understand what I'm saying. Sure, defining
variables in the class
> is a nice way to organize your code. But if (var $myVar;)
does absolutly nothing
> whats the point. If I want to comment my code I can do:
> // note to Sam: don't misspell $myvar ;-)
>
> Thanks,
> Sam
>
>
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