1.2.1374. Used Once Property

Property used once in their defining class.

Properties used in one method only may be used several times, and read only. This may be a class constant. Such properties are meant to be overwritten by an extending class, and that’s possible with class constants.

Setting properties with default values is a good way to avoid littering the code with literal values, and provide a single point of update (by extension, or by hardcoding) for all those situations. A constant is definitely better suited for this task.

<?php

class foo {
    private $defaultCols = '*';
    cont DEFAULT_COLUMNS = '*';

    // $this->defaultCols holds a default value. Should be a constant.
    function bar($table, $cols) {
        // This is necessary to activate usage of default values
        if (empty($cols)) {
            $cols = $this->defaultCols;
        }
        $res = $this->query('SELECT '.$cols.' FROM '.$table);
        // ....
    }

    // Upgraded version of bar, with default values
    function bar2($table, $cols = self::DEFAULT_COLUMNS) {
        $res = $this->query('SELECT '.$cols.' FROM '.$table);
        // .....
    }
}

?>

1.2.1374.1. Connex PHP features

1.2.1374.1.1. Suggestions

  • Remove the property, as it is probably not unused

  • Add another usage of the property where it is useful

1.2.1374.1.2. Specs

Short name

Classes/UsedOnceProperty

Rulesets

All, Analyze, Changed Behavior

Exakat since

0.10.3

PHP Version

All

Severity

Minor

Time To Fix

Slow (1 hour)

Precision

High

Available in

Entreprise Edition, Exakat Cloud