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PHP Chaining Techniques Explained: Three Common Methods with Examples

gitbox 2025-07-18

Introduction to Chaining

Chaining is a programming style that allows you to call multiple methods in a single line of code. In PHP, chaining is achieved by returning the current object or a new object, making the code more concise and the logic clearer.

Advantages of Chaining

Chaining not only makes the code more compact but also reduces repetition and improves development efficiency. It makes the code visually cleaner and easier to understand.

Method One: Returning $this

The first method is to return the $this keyword at the end of each method, allowing for method chaining.

Example:


class MyClass {
  public function method1() {
    // Some operations
    return $this;
  }

  public function method2() {
    // Some operations
    return $this;
  }

  public function method3() {
    // Some operations
    return $this;
  }
}

$object = new MyClass();
$object->method1()->method2()->method3();

In this example, each method in the MyClass class returns $this, allowing for method chaining.

Method Two: Using Static Methods

The second method is to use static methods for chaining. This approach is often used when a new object needs to be returned.

Example:


class MyClass {
  public static function method1() {
    // Some operations
    return new static();
  }

  public function method2() {
    // Some operations
    return $this;
  }

  public function method3() {
    // Some operations
    return $this;
  }
}

MyClass::method1()->method2()->method3();

In this example, the static method method1 returns a new instance, enabling method chaining.

Method Three: Using the Magic Method __call

The third method is to use the magic method __call. This allows you to dynamically handle method calls.

Example:


class ChainClass {
  public function __call($method, $args) {
    // Some operations
    return $this;
  }
}

$object = new ChainClass();
$object->method1()->method2()->method3();

In this example, the ChainClass class uses the magic method __call to handle method calls, and by returning $this, it implements chaining.

Conclusion

Through the three methods mentioned above, chaining in PHP can be achieved. Whether it is returning $this, using static methods, or leveraging the magic method __call, chaining significantly improves code simplicity and readability. In real-world development, selecting the right method for chaining can greatly enhance code clarity and maintainability.

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