Cleaner PHP code with promoted constructor properties
One of my favorite features that was introducted in PHP 8 was promoted constructor properties.
If I'm passing arguments into a constructor, I can declare a visibility and it will be promoted to a property on the class.
Here's an example of a value of a data transfer object that accepts a sort code and account number as strings:
class AccountDetails {
public function __construct(
public string $accountNumber,
public string $sortCode,
) {}
}
Without promoted constructor properties, I'd need to create the properties and assign them manually, and I'd have this:
class AccountDetails {
public string $accountNumber;
public string $sortCode;
public function __construct(
string $accountNumber,
string $sortCode,
) {
$this->accountNumber = $accountNumber;
$this->sortCode = $sortCode;
}
}
Whilst text editors and IDEs can create the properties automatically, I prefer this as it's less code, more readable and easier to understand.
- Oliver
