Constructor promotion in PHP - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is constructor promotion in PHP?

Constructor promotion is a feature introduced in PHP 8.0 that allows you to declare and initialize class properties directly in the constructor parameters, reducing boilerplate code.

beginner

How do you declare a promoted property in a PHP constructor?

You add visibility keywords (public, protected, private) before the constructor parameter. PHP automatically creates and initializes the property with the passed value.

beginner

Example: What does this PHP code do?
<pre>class User {
  public function __construct(private string $name) {}
}</pre>

This code creates a class User with a private property $name. The property is declared and initialized directly via the constructor parameter using constructor promotion.

intermediate

Can constructor promotion be used with default parameter values?

Yes, you can assign default values to promoted parameters in the constructor, just like regular parameters.

beginner

What are the benefits of using constructor promotion?

It reduces boilerplate code by combining property declaration and initialization in one place, making code shorter and easier to read.

What keyword must you add before a constructor parameter to promote it to a property?

A static

B function

C var

D public

You use visibility keywords like public, protected, or private before the parameter to promote it.

Which PHP version introduced constructor promotion?

A PHP 8.0

B PHP 5.6

C PHP 7.4

D PHP 8.1

Constructor promotion was introduced in PHP 8.0.

What happens if you omit the visibility keyword in a constructor parameter?

A The parameter is promoted as a public property

B Syntax error occurs

C The parameter is not promoted and just acts as a normal parameter

D The parameter becomes static

Without a visibility keyword, the parameter is not promoted and behaves like a normal constructor parameter.

Can constructor promotion be used with readonly properties?

A Yes, by adding the readonly keyword after the visibility

B No, readonly properties cannot be promoted

C Only in PHP 7

D Only for public properties

You can promote readonly properties by adding the readonly keyword after the visibility keyword.

Which of these is a valid promoted constructor parameter?

A function __construct(string $name)

B public function __construct(public string $name)

C private function __construct(string $name)

D protected function __construct($name)

Only parameters with visibility keywords like public string $name are promoted.

Explain constructor promotion in PHP and how it simplifies class property declaration and initialization.

Think about how you normally declare properties and assign them in the constructor.

Write a simple PHP class using constructor promotion to declare two properties: a public string $title and a private int $year.

Use public and private before the parameters in the constructor.

Practice

1. What is the main benefit of using constructor promotion in PHP classes?

easy

A. It automatically generates getter and setter methods for properties.

B. It allows declaring and assigning properties in one step inside the constructor.

C. It enforces strict typing on all class properties.

D. It makes the class immutable by default.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand constructor promotion purpose

   Constructor promotion lets you declare and assign properties directly in the constructor parameters.

2. Step 2: Compare options

   Only It allows declaring and assigning properties in one step inside the constructor. correctly describes this benefit. Options B, C, and D describe unrelated features.

3. Final Answer:

   It allows declaring and assigning properties in one step inside the constructor. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Constructor promotion = Declare and assign properties together [OK]

Hint: Constructor promotion combines property declaration and assignment [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking it auto-generates getters/setters
• Confusing with immutability
• Assuming it enforces typing

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax for constructor promotion in PHP?

easy

A. public function __construct(private string $name, int $age) {}

B. public function __construct(var $name, var $age) {}

C. public function __construct(string $name, int $age) { $this->name = $name; }

D. public function __construct(private string $name, private int $age) {}

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify visibility keywords in constructor parameters

   Constructor promotion requires visibility keywords like private, protected, or public before parameters.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   public function __construct(private string $name, private int $age) {} uses private for both parameters, which is correct. public function __construct(private string $name, int $age) {} misses visibility for $age. public function __construct(string $name, int $age) { $this->name = $name; } is normal assignment, not promotion. public function __construct(var $name, var $age) {} uses invalid 'var' keyword.

3. Final Answer:

   public function __construct(private string $name, private int $age) {} -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Visibility + parameter = constructor promotion [OK]

Hint: Use visibility keywords on constructor parameters for promotion [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting visibility keyword
• Using invalid keywords like var
• Confusing promotion with manual assignment

3. What will be the output of the following PHP code?

class User {
    public function __construct(private string $name, private int $age) {}
    public function getInfo() {
        return "$this->name is $this->age years old.";
    }
}
$user = new User('Alice', 30);
echo $user->getInfo();

medium

A. Alice is 30 years old.

B. Error: Cannot access private property

C. 30 is Alice years old.

D. Syntax error

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand property promotion and access

   The properties $name and $age are private but accessible inside class methods like getInfo().

2. Step 2: Analyze getInfo() output

   It returns a string combining $name and $age values. Since $user is created with 'Alice' and 30, output is "Alice is 30 years old."

3. Final Answer:

   Alice is 30 years old. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Private properties accessible inside class = correct output [OK]

Hint: Private promoted properties accessible inside class methods [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming private properties are inaccessible inside class
• Mixing order of name and age in output
• Expecting syntax error

4. Identify the error in this PHP class using constructor promotion:

class Product {
    public function __construct(private $name, private int $price) {}
}

medium

A. Cannot use private keyword in constructor parameters.

B. Price parameter should be string, not int.

C. Missing type declaration for $name parameter.

D. Constructor promotion requires public visibility only.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check parameter declarations

   The $name parameter lacks a type declaration, which is required for constructor promotion to be clear and strict.

2. Step 2: Validate other options

   Private visibility is allowed, int type for price is valid, and promotion supports all visibility levels.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing type declaration for $name parameter. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   All promoted parameters need type declarations [OK]

Hint: All promoted parameters must have types declared [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting type for promoted parameters
• Thinking only public visibility allowed
• Confusing parameter types

5. You want to create a PHP class Book with promoted properties title (string), author (string), and pages (int). You also want to add a method summary() that returns a string like "Title by Author, Pages pages.". Which of the following is the correct complete class code?

hard

A. class Book {
public function __construct(public string $title, public string $author, public int $pages) {}
public function summary() {
return "$this->title by $this->author, $this->pages pages.";
}
}

B. class Book {
public string $title;
public string $author;
public int $pages;
public function __construct($title, $author, $pages) {
$this->title = $title;
$this->author = $author;
$this->pages = $pages;
}
public function summary() {
return "$title by $author, $pages pages.";
}
}

C. class Book {
public function __construct(string $title, string $author, int $pages) {}
public function summary() {
return "$this->title by $this->author, $this->pages pages.";
}
}

D. class Book {
public function __construct(private string $title, private string $author, private int $pages) {}
public function summary() {
return "$title by $author, $pages pages.";
}
}

Solution

1. Step 1: Check constructor promotion syntax

   class Book { public function __construct(public string $title, public string $author, public int $pages) {} public function summary() { return "$this->title by $this->author, $this->pages pages."; } } correctly uses public visibility with types in constructor parameters to promote properties.

2. Step 2: Verify summary() method access and string

   class Book { public function __construct(public string $title, public string $author, public int $pages) {} public function summary() { return "$this->title by $this->author, $this->pages pages."; } } uses $this->property to access promoted properties and returns the correct formatted string.

3. Step 3: Analyze other options

   class Book { public string $title; public string $author; public int $pages; public function __construct($title, $author, $pages) { $this->title = $title; $this->author = $author; $this->pages = $pages; } public function summary() { return "$title by $author, $pages pages."; } } uses manual assignment but summary() incorrectly uses variables without $this->. class Book { public function __construct(string $title, string $author, int $pages) {} public function summary() { return "$this->title by $this->author, $this->pages pages."; } } promotes parameters but does not assign them to properties. class Book { public function __construct(private string $title, private string $author, private int $pages) {} public function summary() { return "$title by $author, $pages pages."; } } uses private properties but summary() accesses variables without $this->, causing errors.

4. Final Answer:

   Option A code with public promoted properties and correct summary() -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Promotion + correct property access = class Book { public function __construct(public string $title, public string $author, public int $pages) {} public function summary() { return "$this->title by $this->author, $this->pages pages."; } } [OK]

Hint: Use visibility + $this->property in methods for promoted properties [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting $this-> in methods
• Not assigning promoted properties properly
• Mixing private properties with wrong access