1.2.54. Assign Default To Properties

Properties may be assigned default values at declaration time. Such values may be later modified, if needed.

Default values will save some instructions in the constructor, and makes the value obvious in the code.

<?php

class foo {
    private $propertyWithDefault = 1;
    private $propertyWithoutDefault;
    private $propertyThatCantHaveDefault;

    public function __construct() {
        // Skip this extra line, and give the default value above
        $this->propertyWithoutDefault = 1;

        // Static expressions are available to set up simple computation at definition time.
        $this->propertyWithoutDefault = OtherClass::CONSTANT + 1;

        // Arrays, just like scalars, may be set at definition time
        $this->propertyWithoutDefault = [1,2,3];

        // Objects or resources can't be made default. That is OK.
        $this->propertyThatCantHaveDefault = fopen('/path/to/file.txt');
        $this->propertyThatCantHaveDefault = new Fileinfo();
    }
}

?>

See also PHP Default parameters.

1.2.54.1. Suggestions

• Add a default value whenever possible. This is easy for scalars, and array()

1.2.54.2. Specs

Short name	Classes/MakeDefault
Rulesets	All, Analyze
Exakat since	0.8.4
PHP Version	All
Severity	Minor
Time To Fix	Instant (5 mins)
Precision	Very high
Features	default-value
ClearPHP	use-properties-default-values
Examples	LiveZilla, phpMyAdmin
Available in	Entreprise Edition, Exakat Cloud