Classes: Inheritance

Extend your objects

In PHP, a class can extend another class, inheriting the parent class’ properties and methods. To make a class a child of another, use the extends keyword after the class name.

<?php

class Vehicle
{
    public function drive()
    {
        echo "driving...\n";
    }
}

class Truck extends Vehicle {}

Using the drive method on the Truck class does not cause an error because Truck extends Vehicle.

$truck = new Truck();
$truck->drive();

Even though the child class inherits a parent class’ properties and methods, the child can still override the parent.

class Tractor extends Vehicle
{
    public function drive()
    {
        echo "driving slowly...\n";
    }
}

The drive function now outputs “driving slowly…” instead of “driving…”.

$tractor = new Tractor();
$tractor->drive();

A class can use a parent’s property or method from the $this variable.

class Motorcycle extends Vehicle
{
    public function pushPedal()
    {
        $this->drive();
    }
}

The pushPedal method outputs “driving…”.

$cycle = new Motorcycle();
$cycle->pushPedal();

If you override a parent’s property or method, the $this variable will refer to the child’s implementation of the property or method. To call the parent’s property or method explicity, use the parent keyword.

class Racecar extends Vehicle
{
    public function drive()
    {
        parent::drive();

        echo "driving even faster...\n";
    }
}

The drive method on Racecar now outputs “driving…” and “driving even faster…”.

$racecar = new Racecar();
$racecar->drive();