Summary of PHP Anonymous Classes

PHP anonymous classes, introduced in PHP 7.0, allow developers to create classes without naming them. This feature is especially useful for quick, one-off objects that do not require a full class definition.

Key Concepts

• Anonymous Class: A class that doesn't have a name and is defined at runtime.
• Instantiation: You can create an instance of an anonymous class directly using the new keyword.
• Use Cases: Ideal for temporary objects or when you don't need to reuse the class.

Benefits

• Simplicity: Reduces boilerplate code when a class is not needed elsewhere.
• Encapsulation: Keeps the implementation details hidden while still providing functionality.
• Flexibility: Easy to create and use in different contexts without polluting the namespace.

Basic Syntax

$object = new class {
    public function sayHello() {
        return "Hello, World!";
    }
};

echo $object->sayHello(); // Outputs: Hello, World!

Explanation of the Example

• Creating an Instance: A new object is created using new class { ... }.
• Method Definition: Inside the anonymous class, a method sayHello is defined.
• Calling the Method: The method is called, demonstrating how to use the anonymous class.

Features

• Inheritance: Anonymous classes can extend other classes or implement interfaces.
• Properties and Methods: You can define properties and methods just like in named classes.

Example with Inheritance

class Base {
    public function baseMethod() {
        return "Base method";
    }
}

$object = new class extends Base {
    public function sayHello() {
        return "Hello from Anonymous Class!";
    }
};

echo $object->baseMethod(); // Outputs: Base method
echo $object->sayHello();   // Outputs: Hello from Anonymous Class!

Conclusion

PHP anonymous classes provide a powerful way to create lightweight, temporary objects without the need for a full class declaration. They enhance code readability and maintainability by keeping the code simple and focused.