# Interface and abstract method - Thread: https://externals.io/message/48316 - Original archive: https://news-web.php.net/php.internals/48316 - Started by mathieu.suen on 2010-05-18T15:12:44+00:00 - Messages: 7 - 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 --- ## #48316 — mathieu.suen — 2010-05-18T15:12:44+00:00 URL: https://externals.io/message/48316#48316 Hi, In the SPL there is some interface that have abstract method: *Countable* { /* Methods */ abstract public int count ( void ) } While some interface have "none abstract" method. *OuterIterator* extends Iterator { /* Methods */ public Iterator getInnerIterator ( void ) ..snip.. } Does "abstract" keyword have a semantic? Thanks --Mathieu suen --- ## #48320 — Richard Quadling — 2010-05-18T15:50:51+00:00 URL: https://externals.io/message/48316#48320 · In reply to: #48316 > Hi, > > In the SPL there is some interface that have abstract method: > > *Countable* { > /* Methods */ > abstract public int count > ( void ) > } > > While some interface have "none abstract" method. > > *OuterIterator* extends Iterator > { > /* Methods */ > public Iterator getInnerIterator > ( void ) > ..snip.. > } > > Does  "abstract" keyword have a semantic? > > Thanks > > --Mathieu suen > > > > http://docs.php.net/abstract By the nature of the method being in an interface, it is automatically abstract - there is no code behind the method in an interface. So you must supply the code in any class that implements the interface. Unless the sub-class is declared as an abstract class ... count(); ?> -- ----- Richard Quadling "Standing on the shoulders of some very clever giants!" EE : http://www.experts-exchange.com/M_248814.html EE4Free : http://www.experts-exchange.com/becomeAnExpert.jsp Zend Certified Engineer : http://zend.com/zce.php?c=ZEND002498&r=213474731 ZOPA : http://uk.zopa.com/member/RQuadling --- ## #48321 — Tjerk Anne Meesters — 2010-05-18T15:55:26+00:00 URL: https://externals.io/message/48316#48321 · In reply to: #48316 Normally, PHP won't allow access types for interface methods, but the reflection for SPL is defined inside the C code: static const zend_function_entry spl_funcs_OuterIterator[] = { SPL_ABSTRACT_ME(OuterIterator, getInnerIterator, arginfo_recursive_it_void) {NULL, NULL, NULL} }; IMO the SPL_ME should be used instead, but I wouldn't be bothered about it ;-) On Tue, May 18, 2010 at 11:12 PM, mathieu.suen wrote: > Hi, > > In the SPL there is some interface that have abstract method: > > *Countable* { > /* Methods */ > abstract public int count > ( void ) > } > > While some interface have "none abstract" method. > > *OuterIterator* extends Iterator > { > /* Methods */ > public Iterator getInnerIterator > ( void ) > ..snip.. > } > > Does  "abstract" keyword have a semantic? > > Thanks > > --Mathieu suen > > > > -- -- Tjerk --- ## #48350 — mathieu.suen — 2010-05-19T12:27:17+00:00 URL: https://externals.io/message/48316#48350 · In reply to: #48321 Ok so there is no real meaning behind the "abstract". Thanks > Normally, PHP won't allow access types for interface methods, but the > reflection for SPL is defined inside the C code: > > static const zend_function_entry spl_funcs_OuterIterator[] = { > SPL_ABSTRACT_ME(OuterIterator, getInnerIterator, > arginfo_recursive_it_void) > {NULL, NULL, NULL} > }; > > IMO the SPL_ME should be used instead, but I wouldn't be bothered about it ;-) > > On Tue, May 18, 2010 at 11:12 PM, mathieu.suen > wrote: > > > […] > > > -- Mathieu Suen --- ## #48351 — Richard Quadling — 2010-05-19T12:31:16+00:00 URL: https://externals.io/message/48316#48351 · In reply to: #48350 > Ok so there is no real meaning behind the "abstract". > Thanks > > > > […] > > -- Mathieu Suen > > > > Seemingly not when it applies to an interface. -- ----- Richard Quadling "Standing on the shoulders of some very clever giants!" EE : http://www.experts-exchange.com/M_248814.html EE4Free : http://www.experts-exchange.com/becomeAnExpert.jsp Zend Certified Engineer : http://zend.com/zce.php?c=ZEND002498&r=213474731 ZOPA : http://uk.zopa.com/member/RQuadling --- ## #48353 — Peter Cowburn — 2010-05-19T12:53:02+00:00 URL: https://externals.io/message/48316#48353 · In reply to: #48351 > > > […] For what it's worth, the non-SPL interfaces use ZEND_ABSTRACT_ME or similar as far as I can tell. Also, reflection says that all of the interface methods are abstract (which they are, in the sense of not having any method body). > > […] > > Seemingly not when it applies to an interface. > I think the key issue is that _in the docs_ some interface methods are marked up as abstract, yet others aren't. I suggest making them consistent, having them all being one or t'other. > -- > ----- > Richard Quadling > "Standing on the shoulders of some very clever giants!" > EE : http://www.experts-exchange.com/M_248814.html > EE4Free : http://www.experts-exchange.com/becomeAnExpert.jsp > Zend Certified Engineer : http://zend.com/zce.php?c=ZEND002498&r=213474731 > ZOPA : http://uk.zopa.com/member/RQuadling --- ## #48354 — Richard Quadling — 2010-05-19T12:59:30+00:00 URL: https://externals.io/message/48316#48354 · In reply to: #48353 > I think the key issue is that _in the docs_ some interface methods are > marked up as abstract, yet others aren't.  I suggest making them > consistent, having them all being one or t'other. I would show abstract. -- ----- Richard Quadling "Standing on the shoulders of some very clever giants!" EE : http://www.experts-exchange.com/M_248814.html EE4Free : http://www.experts-exchange.com/becomeAnExpert.jsp Zend Certified Engineer : http://zend.com/zce.php?c=ZEND002498&r=213474731 ZOPA : http://uk.zopa.com/member/RQuadling