Using __construct()

The __construct() magic method represents a PHP constructor concept similar to that of other OO languages. It allows developers to tap into the object creation process. Classes that have the __construct() method declared, call it on each newly-created object. This allows us to deal with any initialization that the object may need before it is used.

The following code snippet shows the simplest possible use of the __construct() method:

<?php

class User
{
  public function __construct()
  {
    var_dump('__construct');
  }
}

new User;
new User();

Both User instances will yield the same string(11) "__construct" output to the screen. The more complex example might include constructor parameters. Consider the following code snippet:

<?php

class User
{
  protected $name;
  protected $age;

  public function __construct($name, $age)
  {
    $this->name = $name;
    $this->age = $age;
    var_dump($this->name);
    var_dump($this->age);
  }
}

new User; #1
new...