## Late Static Bindings

As of PHP 5.3.0, PHP implements a feature called late static bindings which can be used to reference the called class in a context of static inheritance.

More precisely, late static bindings work by storing the class named in the last "non-forwarding call". In case of static method calls, this is the class explicitly named (usually the one on the left of the `::` operator); in case of non static method calls, it is the class of the object. A "forwarding call" is a static one that is introduced by `self::`, `parent::`, `static::`, or, if going up in the class hierarchy, forward_static_call(). The function get_called_class() can be used to retrieve a string with the name of the called class and `static::` introduces its scope.

This feature was named "late static bindings" with an internal perspective in mind. "Late binding" comes from the fact that `static::` will not be resolved using the class where the method is defined but it will rather be computed using runtime information. It was also called a "static binding" as it can be used for (but is not limited to) static method calls.

### Limitations of `self::`

Static references to the current class like `self::` or `__CLASS__` are resolved using the class in which the function belongs, as in where it was defined:

Example #1 `self::` usage

`<?php
class A {
public static function who() {
echo __CLASS__;
}
public static function test() {
self::who();
}
}
class B extends A {
public static function who() {
echo __CLASS__;
}
}
B::test();
?>`

The above example will output:

    A

### Late Static Bindings' usage

Late static bindings tries to solve that limitation by introducing a keyword that references the class that was initially called at runtime. Basically, a keyword that would allow you to reference `B` from `test()` in the previous example. It was decided not to introduce a new keyword but rather use `static` that was already reserved.

Example #2 `static::` simple usage

`<?php
class A {
public static function who() {
echo __CLASS__;
}
public static function test() {
static::who(); // Here comes Late Static Bindings
}
}
class B extends A {
public static function who() {
echo __CLASS__;
}
}
B::test();
?>`

The above example will output:

    B

> Note:

> In non-static contexts, the called class will be the class of the object instance. Since `$this->` will try to call private methods from the same scope, using `static::` may give different results. Another difference is that `static::` can only refer to static properties.

Example #3 `static::` usage in a non-static context

`<?php
class A {
private function foo() {
echo "success!\n";
}
public function test() {
$this->foo();
static::foo();
}
}
class B extends A {
/* foo() will be copied to B, hence its scope will still be A and
* the call be successful */
}
class C extends A {
private function foo() {
/* original method is replaced; the scope of the new one is C */
}
}
$b = new B();
$b->test();
$c = new C();
$c->test(); //fails
?>`

The above example will output:

    success!
    success!
    success!

    Fatal error:  Call to private method C::foo() from context 'A' in /tmp/test.php on line 9

> Note:

> Late static bindings' resolution will stop at a fully resolved static call with no fallback. On the other hand, static calls using keywords like `parent::` or `self::` will forward the calling information.

> Example #4 Forwarding and non-forwarding calls

> `<?php
> class A {
> public static function foo() {
> static::who();
> }
> public static function who() {
> echo __CLASS__."\n";
> }
> }
> class B extends A {
> public static function test() {
> A::foo();
> parent::foo();
> self::foo();
> }
> public static function who() {
> echo __CLASS__."\n";
> }
> }
> class C extends B {
> public static function who() {
> echo __CLASS__."\n";
> }
> }
> C::test();
> ?>`

> The above example will output:

>     A
>     C
>     C