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PHP: limitation of variable variables

In php I can do this: 

$class = 'Notes';
echo $class::message();

but it seems that from within a method, I can't do this:

echo ($this->myClass)::message();

and also cannot do this: 

echo someFunctionThatReturnsClassName()::message();

Can anybody explain why? And give some rules about when and how this indirection mechanism works?

Thank you Gidi

Solution

  • This is not an issue with variable variables, it is an issue with PHP not allowing this syntax. There is a proposal for fixing this in the core, however this one has not been accepted yet: http://wiki.php.net/rfc/fcallfcall (and also http://wiki.php.net/rfc/functionarraydereferencing)