PHP encapsulation without class?

Question

Is it possible to encapsulate, a variable or function let say, in PHP without wrapping them in a class? What I was doing is:

//Include the file containing the class which contains the variable or function
include('SomePage.php');

//Instantiate the class from "SomePage.php"
$NewObject = new SomeClassFromSomePage();

//Use the function or variable
echo $NewObject->SomeFuncFromSomeClass();
echo $NewObject->SomeVarFromSomeClass;

My intention is to avoid naming conflict. This routine, although it works, makes me tired. If I cannot do it without class, it is possible not to instantiate a class? and just use the variable or function instantly?

Answer 1

To use class methods and variables without instantiating, they must be declared static:

class My_Class
{ 
    public static $var = 123;

    public static function getVar() {
     return self::var;
    }
}


// Call as:
My_Class::getVar();

// or access the variable directly:
My_Class::$var;

With PHP 5.3, you can also use namespaces

namespace YourNamespace;

function yourFunction() {
  // do something...
}


// While in the same namespace, call as 
yourFunction();

// From a different namespace, call as
YourNamespace\yourFunction();