PHP — Static Methods

static keyword

<?php
class Person {
    public static function create(): static {
        return new static();
    }

    public function getClass(): string {
        return static::class;
    }
}

class Employee extends Person {}

$p = new Person();
$e = new Employee();

echo $p->getClass(); // Person
echo $e->getClass(); // Employee
?>

Factory pattern

<?php
abstract class Animal {
    abstract public function speak(): string;

    public static function create(string $type): static {
        return match($type) {
            'dog' => new Dog(),
            'cat' => new Cat(),
            default => throw new InvalidArgumentException("Unknown type: $type"),
        };
    }
}

class Dog extends Animal {
    public function speak(): string { return 'Woof!'; }
}

class Cat extends Animal {
    public function speak(): string { return 'Meow!'; }
}

$animal = Animal::create('dog');
echo $animal->speak(); // Woof!
?>

Mini Practice

Write PHP code that:

1. Uses static::class to get the current class name
2. Creates a factory method with static binding
3. Demonstrates late vs early static binding

Up Next

In the next lesson, you'll learn about Final Keyword — preventing inheritance.