what does $this mean within a class definition?

Question

As I continue to try and improve myself as a junior PHP developer, I have started to try break down other peoples work. I find it helps me understand, as well as giving me ideas.

Two things I do not get, in a PHP class, what $this means, and what array($this,'some_function') means when I would expect a function name in it's place.

Many thanks

Answer 1

Please see the PHP Manual on Classes and Objects. $this refers to the object instance. Also see these questions:

• What does the variable $this mean in PHP?
• What is the meaning of $this

For array($this,'some_function') see the PHP manual on callbacks. In methods and functions that do accept callbacks, like call_user_func, it means call the method some_function on $this. See

• How do I implement a callback in PHP?
• What is a callback function and how do I use it with OOP

Marking this as CW because it's not meant as an answer but the reason for closevoting as duplicate

Answer 2

$this is a class pointer. $this in class give access to class properties and methods.