1.2.69. Avoid Using stdClass

stdClass is the default class for PHP. It is instantiated when PHP needs to return a object, but no class is specifically available.

It is recommended to avoid instantiating this class. Some PHP or frameworks functions, such as json_encode(), do return them : this is fine, although it is reported here.

If you need a stdClass object, it is faster to build it as an array, then cast it, than instantiate stdClass. This is a micro-optimisation.

<?php

$json = '{"a":1,"b":2,"c":3}';
$object = json_decode($json);
// $object is a stdClass, as returned by json_decode

// Fast building of $o
$a = [];
$a['a'] = 1;
$a['b'] = 2;
$a['c'] = 3;
json_encode( (object) $a);

// Slow building of $o
$o = new stdClass();
$o->a = 1;
$o->b = 2;
$o->c = 3;
json_encode($o);

?>

1.2.69.1. Suggestions

• Create a custom class to handle the properties

1.2.69.2. Specs

Short name	Php/UseStdclass
Rulesets	All, Analyze
Exakat since	0.9.1
PHP Version	All
Severity	Minor
Time To Fix	Slow (1 hour)
Precision	Very high
Features	stdclass
Available in	Entreprise Edition, Exakat Cloud