Linking two classes to different namespaces - PHP

As I mentioned in the section that you just read, it’s possible to link two classes that have been named the same to different namespaces, something that can be very useful in those cases where you’re working with third-party software.

In order to illustrate this concept, I’m going to create one sample file called “usercms.php,” which will include the “User” class that you saw before, along with the definition of the namespace where it will be used.

Having said that, here’s how this first sample file looks:

(definition for 'cmsuser.php' file)

<?php

namespace UserManager::CMS;

class User{

private $firstName;

private $lastName;

private $email;

public function __construct($firstName,$lastName,$email){

if(!$firstName||strlen($firstName)>32){

throw new Exception('Invalid First Name parameter!');

}

if(!$lastName||strlen($lastName)>32){

throw new Exception('Invalid Last Name parameter!');

}

if(!$email||!preg_match("/^.+@.+..+$/",$email)){

throw new Exception('Invalid Email parameter!');

}

$this->firstName=$firstName;

$this->lastName=$lastName;

$this->email=$email;

}

// get user's first name

public function getFirstName(){

return $this->firstName;

}

// get user's last name

public function getLastName(){

return $this->lastName;

}

// get user's email

public function getEmail(){

return $this->email;

}

}

?>

So far there is nothing unexpected, right? As you can see, the previous “usercms.php” file first declares a “UserManager::CMS” namespace, and then  includes the signature of the pertinent “User” class.

Now that I already tied the previous “User” class to the “UserManager::CMS” namespace, I’m going to define a similar class. As you’ll see in a moment, this class will be linked to a different namespace. Of course, all of this code will be encapsulated into another sample file, called “bloguser.php,” whose definition is listed below:

(definition for 'bloguser.php' file)

<?php

namespace UserManager::Blog;

class User{

private $firstName;

private $lastName;

private $email;

public function __construct($firstName,$lastName,$email){

if(!$firstName||strlen($firstName)>32){

throw new Exception('Invalid First Name parameter!');

}

if(!$lastName||strlen($lastName)>32){

throw new Exception('Invalid Last Name parameter!');

}

if(!$email||!preg_match("/^.+@.+..+$/",$email)){

throw new Exception('Invalid Email parameter!');

}

$this->firstName=$firstName;

$this->lastName=$lastName;

$this->email=$email;

}

// get user's first name

public function getFirstName(){

return $this->firstName;

}

// get user's last name

public function getLastName(){

return $this->lastName;

}

// get user's email

public function getEmail(){

return $this->email;

}

// get all user data

public function getAll(){

return 'First Name: '.$this->firstName.' Last Name: '.$this->lastName.' Email: '.$this->email;

}

}

?>

Certainly, things are getting really interesting now! As you can see, I built a second “User” class that extends the functionality of the first one. However, I’ve done this only for example purposes, since the most important detail to stress here is that both classes have been linked to different namespaces.

At this point, are you beginning to realize how useful namespaces can be when working with a group of classes that have the same name? I hope you are, because this is precisely the most relevant advantage in using namespaces in the context of an object-oriented application.

So far, so good. At this stage, you have hopefully learned, by means of the two previous sample files, how to tie two “User” classes to distinct namespaces. Thus, the next step will be aimed at demonstrating how the classes in question can be called independently within the same PHP script, even when they share the same name.

To see how this brand new script will be developed, please click on the link that appears below and read the following section. I’ll be there, waiting for you.