# Dynamic class names and namespaces

- Thread: https://externals.io/message/32902
- Original archive: https://news-web.php.net/php.internals/32902
- Started by magnus@php.net on 2007-10-21T13:57:48+00:00
- Messages: 4
- Reply by email to internals@lists.php.net
- More for agents: search with https://externals.io/search.md?q={query} · JSON API at https://externals.io/api · documentation at https://externals.io/llms.txt

---

## #32902 — magnus@php.net — 2007-10-21T13:57:48+00:00

URL: https://externals.io/message/32902#32902

Hello,

Using dynamic class names works fine without namespaces, but
doesn't work at all with namespaces. Take this simple example:

<?php
namespace test;
class Foo {}
$class = "Foo";
$foo = new test::$class();
?>

Will produce the following message:
Fatal error: Class 'test::test' not found in foo.php on line Y

Now if Foo would have a static method and we want to use dynamic
access for a static method, we get another error:

<?php
include 'foo.php';
$class = "Foo";
test::$class::test();
?>

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected `T_PAAMAYIM_NEKUDOTAYIM` in ...

All tested with current 5.3

/Magnus

-- 
Small things make base men proud.
		-- William Shakespeare, "Henry VI"

---

## #32905 — Stanislav Malyshev — 2007-10-21T19:34:05+00:00

URL: https://externals.io/message/32902#32905 · In reply to: #32902

> Using dynamic class names works fine without namespaces, but
> doesn't work at all with namespaces. Take this simple example:
> 
> <?php
> namespace test;
> class Foo {}
> $class = "Foo";
> $foo = new test::$class();
> ?>
> 
> Will produce the following message:
> Fatal error: Class 'test::test' not found in foo.php on line Y

I don't think partially variable class name is supposed to work. It is 
interesting though how the engine managed to parse this at all...
-- 
Stanislav Malyshev, Zend Software Architect
stas@zend.com   http://www.zend.com/
(408)253-8829   MSN: stas@zend.com

---

## #32914 — magnus@php.net — 2007-10-22T19:34:29+00:00

URL: https://externals.io/message/32902#32914 · In reply to: #32905

> > […]
> 
> I don't think partially variable class name is supposed to work. It is 
> interesting though how the engine managed to parse this at all...

Ahh, I see, that's a bit disappointing. Any reason why it doesn't/shouldn't
work ?

/Magnus

-- 
One of the most striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has
only nine lives.
		-- Mark Twain, "Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar"

---

## #32915 — Stanislav Malyshev — 2007-10-22T21:23:47+00:00

URL: https://externals.io/message/32902#32915 · In reply to: #32914

> Ahh, I see, that's a bit disappointing. Any reason why it doesn't/shouldn't
> work ?

Yes. Test::Foo is a class name, so you can't make part of it variable 
and part not, just as you couldn't write:

$var = "bar";
$a = new foo$var();

and expect new instance of class "foobar". You'd have to compose the 
full name in variable and then use it.

-- 
Stanislav Malyshev, Zend Software Architect
stas@zend.com   http://www.zend.com/
(408)253-8829   MSN: stas@zend.com