1.2.264. Could Be Protected Method

Those methods are declared ‘public’, but are never used publicly. They may be made ‘protected’.

These properties may even be made private.

<?php

class foo {
    // Public, and used publicly
    public publicMethod() {}

    // Public, but never used outside the class or its children
    public protectedMethod() {}

    private function bar() {
        $this->protectedMethod();
    }
}

$foo = new Foo();
$foo->publicMethod();

?>

1.2.264.1. Suggestions

• Use protected visibility with these methods.

1.2.264.2. Specs

Short name	Classes/CouldBeProtectedMethod
Rulesets	All, Changed Behavior, Class Review
Exakat since	0.12.11
PHP Version	All
Severity	Minor
Time To Fix	Quick (30 mins)
Precision	Very high
Features	visibility, method
Available in	Entreprise Edition, Exakat Cloud