1.2.483. Fossilized Method

A method is fossilized when it is overwritten so often that changing a default value, a return type or an argument type is getting difficult.

This happens when a class is extended. When a method is overwritten once, it may be easy to update the signature in two places. The more methods are overwriting a parent method, the more difficult it is to update it.

This analysis counts the number of times a method is overwritten, and report any method that is overwritten more than 6 times. This threshold may be configured.

<?php

class x1 {
    // foo1() is never overwritten. It is easy to update.
    function foo1() {}

    // foo7() is overwritten seven times. It is hard to update.
    function foo7() {}
}

// classes x2 to x7, all overwrite foo7();
// Only x2 is presente here.
class x2 extends x1 {
    function foo7() {}
}

?>

Name	Default	Type	Description
fossilizationThreshold	6	integer	Minimal number of overwriting methods to consider a method difficult to update.

See also Method fossilization <https://www.exakat.io/en/method-fossilisation/>_.

1.2.483.1. Connex PHP features

• fossilized-method

1.2.483.1.1. Specs

Short name	Classes/FossilizedMethod
Rulesets	All, Changed Behavior, Class Review, Typechecks
Exakat since	2.0.6
PHP Version	All
Severity	Minor
Time To Fix	Quick (30 mins)
Precision	Very high
Available in	Entreprise Edition, Exakat Cloud