[RESOLVED] Classes

[Pino]

Ok i've just started to use PHP5, got a database class set up to handle all my database querys etc.

Do I need to declare a new instance of the database class on every page?

require_once('database.php');

$a = new DB();
$a->connect(); 

Its just i have a class to handle the database and a class to handle my current logged in user. Which I will need to refresh on every page (SO reload and get all the info) Is this correct way of doing it?

[RudiVisser]

That's what I would do, but if it was on every page that database.php was included on, I would place it at the bottom, so it's always defined. Plus I would have __construct() automatically call connect(), or move the connection code into the constructor.

Aside from this I'm sure you'll perhaps get someone telling you to make a static class if you don't want seperate instances.

[penagate]

Database class should be either static or singleton pattern, depending on your opinion (and in my case, mood). Multiple database connections are rare; if you might need to handle these in the future but not at the moment, then singleton is a better choice than static. If you do need to handle them right now, then a regular class is needed.

Do I need to declare a new instance of the database class on every page?

You do not have to declare it in every script file if the files are designed to be included into a script which has the class declared in its scope.

If you have multiple entry points into your application (i.e. you aren't redirecting all requests to a controller script) then I suggest instantiating the database class either at the end of the database script file (as Rudi suggests) or in a global bootstrap script. Then include the appropriate script at the top of every entry point.

If you use one entry point, you can do all of your bootstrap stuff there. Simple.

[Pino]

Pengate,

Forgive me, the current set up i have is an application.php file included on every page. At the moment this file looks like so...

//Start Session
session_start;

$class_directory = "classes/";

//Load the classes we will be using
require_once($class_directory . 'company.php');
require_once($class_directory . 'database.php');

//Set up objects
$db = new Database(); 
$company = new Company(); 

So are you saying I only need to set these objects up once?

Sorry for my limited knowledge :-/

[RudiVisser]

Yes that's basically what I suggested, it's a singleton design - you only have one instance of a class that's accessible in the global scobe.

[Pino]

SO i wouldn't need to include that file on every page? And the variable $DB will be accessible from this point onwards on all pages?

[RudiVisser]

Well you would include application.php on every page, which would thus include your classes and create them.

Once included, $db and $company will be accessible throughout the script.

[Pino]

Well you would include application.php on every page, which would thus include your classes and create them.

Once included, $db and $company will be accessible throughout the script.

Right I see thats fine mind was wondering then.

Thanks for the help.

Pino