1.2.141. Class Overreach

An object of class A may reach any private or protected properties, constants or methods in another object of the same class. This is a PHP feature, though seldom known.

This feature is also called class invasion.

<?php

class A {
    private $p = 1;

    public function foo(A $a) {
        return $a->p + 1;
    }
}

echo (new A)->foo(new A);

?>

See also Visibility from other objects and spatie/invade.

1.2.141.1. Connex PHP features

• visibility

• class-invasion

1.2.141.1.1. Suggestions

• Use a getter to reach inside the other object private properties

1.2.141.1.2. Specs

Short name	Classes/ClassOverreach
Rulesets	All, Appinfo, Changed Behavior
Exakat since	2.2.2
PHP Version	All
Severity	Minor
Time To Fix	Slow (1 hour)
Precision	Medium
Available in	Entreprise Edition, Exakat Cloud