Edit report at http://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=52157&edit=1
ID: 52157 Comment by: mail_ben_schmidt at yahoo dot com dot au Reported by: l dot declercq at nuxwin dot com Summary: Unwanted call of the magic __get method Status: Open Type: Bug Package: Scripting Engine problem Operating System: Debian PHP Version: 5.2.14RC1 Block user comment: N New Comment: You are trying to do something not supported by PHP. The key is in your final error: Cannot assign by reference to overloaded object. The way assign-by-reference works is that it gets a reference to the left-hand-side of the assignment, and then changes that to be a reference to the right hand side. So it is no surprise that __get() is called. However, PHP does not support returning a reference from __get() and assigning to that reference. This feature would need to be added to PHP for it to work, and it is not a simple task, because __get() needs to be able to work for non-references; it would probably require a new magic method for assign-by-reference, &__getReference($index) or something like that. I assume your intention is that it behave the same way as it would behave if you did not have a __get() method. In this case, I suggest you do an assignment by value (of anything!) and then assign by reference to the now-existing property: public static function &setAlias($index, &$value) { $instance = self::getInstance(); // Create the property if it doesn't exist if (!isset($instance->$index)) $instance->$index = true; // Set it by reference return $instance->$index = &$value; } Of course, this will only work if any __isset() method does what is sensible, and any __set() method actually does create the member $index. Previous Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2010-06-23 18:07:16] l dot declercq at nuxwin dot com oops, sorry, it's the magic __get() methods that is unwanted here, not the magic __call() method .. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2010-06-23 12:43:45] l dot declercq at nuxwin dot com Description: ------------ hello everyone ; In the documentation, it's said that the magic __call method is called when an inaccessible member is read. But I've small issue in my current class with a setter method. When I try to set an Alias on an inexistent member, the magic __call method is also called. To solve the problem, I uses a workaround like this in the setter method: public static function &setAlias($index, &$value) { $instance = self::getInstance(); // Small workaround to avoid call of magic __get(). $instance->$index = ''; return $instance->$index = &$value; } Strange behavior, no ? It's bug or not, if not, can you explain to me the reason of this statement ? I uses php 5.2.6. Sorry, for my poor english, I'm french. Test script: --------------- class Registry { protected static $_instance = null; public static function getInstance() { if(self::$_instance == null) { self::$_instance = new self; } return self::$_instance; } public function __get($index) { print 'Oh my god...'; } public static function &setAlias($index, &$value) { $instance = self::getInstance(); return $instance->$index = &$value; } } class myObject { protected static $_instance = null; public static function &getInstance() { if(self::$_instance == null) { self::$_instance = new self(); } return self::$_instance; } } // Here, I want register a `myObject` instance by reference (not by object identifier) Registry::setAlias('MyData', myObject::getInstance()); echo '<pre>'; var_dump(Registry::getInstance()); echo '</pre>'; Expected result: ---------------- object(Registry)#2 (1) { ["MyData"]=> &object(myObject)#1 (0) { } } Actual result: -------------- Oh my god... Notice: Indirect modification of overloaded property Registry::$MyData has no effect in /var/www/test.php on line 67 Fatal error: Cannot assign by reference to overloaded object in /var/www/test.php on line 67 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Edit this bug report at http://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=52157&edit=1