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PHP : Language Reference : Classes and Objects (PHP 5) : Patterns

Patterns

Patterns are ways to describe best practices and good designs. They show a flexible solution to common programming problems.

Factory

The Factory pattern allows for the instantiation of objects at runtime. It is called a Factory Pattern since it is responsible for "manufacturing" an object. A Parameterized Factory receives the name of the class to instantiate as argument.

Example 10.25. Parameterized Factory Method

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<?php
class Example
{
   // The parameterized factory method
   public static function factory($type)
   {
       if (include_once 'Drivers/' . $type . '.php') {
           $classname = 'Driver_' . $type;
           return new $classname;
       } else {
           throw new Exception ('Driver not found');
       }
   }
}
?>

Defining this method in a class allows drivers to be loaded on the fly. If the Example class was a database abstraction class, loading a MySQL and SQLite driver could be done as follows:

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<?php
// Load a MySQL Driver
$mysql = Example::factory('MySQL');

// Load a SQLite Driver
$sqlite = Example::factory('SQLite');
?>


Singleton

The Singleton pattern applies to situations in which there needs to be a single instance of a class. The most common example of this is a database connection. Implementing this pattern allows a programmer to make this single instance easily accessible by many other objects.

Example 10.26. Singleton Function

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<?php
class Example
{
   // Hold an instance of the class
   private static $instance;
   
   // A private constructor; prevents direct creation of object
   private function __construct()
   {
       echo 'I am constructed';
   }

   // The singleton method
   public static function singleton()
   {
       if (!isset(self::$instance)) {
           $c = __CLASS__;
           self::$instance = new $c;
       }

       return self::$instance;
   }
   
   // Example method
   public function bark()
   {
       echo 'Woof!';
   }

   // Prevent users to clone the instance
   public function __clone()
   {
       trigger_error('Clone is not allowed.', E_USER_ERROR);
   }

}

?>

This allows a single instance of the Example class to be retrieved.

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<?php
// This would fail because the constructor is private
$test = new Example;

// This will always retrieve a single instance of the class
$test = Example::singleton();
$test->bark();

// This will issue an E_USER_ERROR.
$test_clone = clone $test;

?>


Related Examples ( Source code ) » language.oop5.patterns

Examples ( Source code ) » PHP Design Patterns Composite
Examples ( Source code ) » Design Patterns Decorator
Examples ( Source code ) » Fill patterns 'Imagick'

Code Examples / Notes » language.oop5.patterns

baldurien
uvillaseca at yahoo dot es :
Yes. In PHP singleton are dependent to a start page - unless if php is runt from a console - thus :
<?php
final class Foo {
 private __construct() {
   // read some static file like configuration file
 }
 public static function getInstance() {
   static $instance = null;
   if (null === $instance) $instance = new Foo();
   return $instance;
 }
}
?>
The file is read each time someone hit the startpage (say "index.php" which would include "Foo.php", and which would call Foo::getInstance()).
Use of cache like APC may allow you to achieve a singleton which would work on the whole server instead of each incoming connexion (an incoming connexion that read a php page, like index.php, will run the script, use the singleton, read the static file, each time while if the singleton was stored like a global instance among each incoming transaction, then the file would be read only once).
However, it is hard to do some as you are not in Java and J2EE, where such is valid and thread safe :
<?php // note : this is java!
public final class Foo {
 private Foo() {/*read our file*/}
 private static final Foo instance = new Foo();
 public static final Foo getInstance() {
   return instance;
 }
}
?>
Because when Java load the class, a lock is acquired so that we only have one call to the constructor, this is equivalent :
<?php // note : this is java!
public final class Foo {
 private static final Object synchrotron = new Object();
 private Foo() {/*read our file*/}
 private static Foo instance;
 public static final Foo getInstance() {
   synchronized (synchrotron) {
     // force the thread to wait here
     // eg: only one thread is in that block
     if (instance == null) {
       instance = new Foo();
     }
     return instance;      
   }
 }
}
?>
The comparison with Java is useful, because it means that you have some work to do to achieve a singleton that would work on the whole server instead of only each incoming connexion :
If you use APC, like this :
<?php
final class Foo {
 private __construct() {
   // append "blah" to a file
 }
 public static function getInstance() {
   if (false === ($o = apc_fetch(__FUNCTION__)) {
     $o = new Foo();
     apc_store(__FUNCTION__, $o);
   }
   return $o;
 }
}
?>
This would work. But, when two incoming connexion arise at the same exact moment, then you will append "blah" twice.
As for the one that said that singleton are a class with static method, no it is not. A singleton is polymorphic, where static method are simply the equivalent with a class namespace of function.
If you have a method or function that expect an object implementing interface A, then you will be able to use singleton implementing interface A.

daniel
Ubaldo, you cannot expect to get the same instance using the Singleton pattern on different runs of the script.
Each time you execute index.php it's a new runtime environment. It's like executing several times Notepad, each run is unrelated to the others.
As your scripts grow in size, and you modularize code used on many pages into classes and libraries you'll realize how useful the Singleton pattern is. For instance, you can create a database abstraction class that you can call from many places and always be asured it's a single instance... in this case that means a single connection to the database.
Hope this clarifies the issue for you.

dario dot ocles
This's a example of Composite Pattern:
<?php
abstract class Graphic{
   abstract public function draw();
}
class Triangle extends Graphic{
   private $name = '';
   public function __construct($name = 'unknown'){
       $this->name = $name;
   }
   public function draw(){
       echo '-I\'m a triangle '.$this->name.'.
';
   }
}
class Container extends Graphic{
   private $name = '';
   private $container = array();
   public function __construct($name = 'unknown'){
       $this->name = $name;
   }
   public function draw(){
       echo 'I\'m a container '.$this->name.'.
';
       foreach($this->container as $graphic)
           $graphic->draw();
   }
   public function add(Graphic $graphic){
       $this->container[] = $graphic;
   }
   public function del(Graphic $graphic){
       unset($this->container[$graphic]);
   }
}
$tri1 = new Triangle('1');
$tri2 = new Triangle('2');
$tri3 = new Triangle('3');
$container1 = new Container('1');
$container2 = new Container('2');
$container3 = new Container('3');
$container1->add($tri1);
$container1->add($tri2);
$container2->add($tri3);
$container3->add($container1);
$container3->add($container2);
$container3->draw();
?>
The above example will output:
I'm a container 3.
I'm a container 1.
-I'm a triangle 1.
-I'm a triangle 2.
I'm a container 2.
-I'm a triangle 3.
Dario Ocles.

toomuchphp-phpman
The principle of the Singleton pattern can easily be expanded to form [what I have dubbed as] the 'Unique' pattern - where a particular class may have several instances, each with a 'Unique ID'.  This can be useful when a single instance is required for each database record.
<?php
 // Each instance of 'Customer' represents one customer!
 class Customer {
    // Access a unique instance of class for a customer record
    public function Unique($CustomerID) {
      static $instances = array();
      // a unique instance for each CustomerID
      if(!isset($instances[$CustomerID]))
        $instances[$CustomerID] = new Customer($CustomerID);
      return $instances[$CustomerID];
    }
    private $CustomerID;
    private function __construct($CustomerID) {
      $this->CustomerID = $CustomerID;
    }
 }
 // get instance of class for customer #1
 $C1 = Customer::Unique(1);
 // get instance of class for customer #2
 $C2 = Customer::Unique(2);
?>

david
Thanks for the example below of an extendable Singleton. I have enhanced it a little so the derived class does not need to implement any functions. The technique to get an instance is now
$x = Singleton::connect( "derived_class_name")
<?php
class Singleton
{
/*
   How to use:
       extend new class from singleton
   To connect:
       $x = Singleton::connect( "CLASSNAME" ) ;
*/
   private static
       $instanceMap = array();
   //protected constructor to prevent outside instantiation
   protected function __construct()
   {
   }
 
   //deny cloning of singleton objects
   public final function __clone()
   {
       trigger_error('It is impossible to clone singleton', E_USER_ERROR);
   }
   public function connect(    // return a (reference to) a single instance of className
                   $className  // name of a class derived from Singleton
                   )
   {
       // see if class already constructed
       if(!isset(self::$instanceMap[$className]))
       {
           // if not then make one
           $object = new $className;
           //Make sure this object inherit from Singleton
           if($object instanceof Singleton)
           {
               // save in static array
               self::$instanceMap[$className] = $object;
           }
           else
           {
               throw SingletonException("Class '$className' do not inherit from Singleton!");
           }
       }
       // return reference to single instanace of className
       return self::$instanceMap[$className];
   }
}
?>
<?php
class A extends Singleton
{
   protected $rndId;
 
   protected function __construct()
   {
       $this->rndId = rand();
   }
 
   public function whatAmI()
   {
       echo 'I am a ' . get_class( $this ) . ' (' . $this->rndId . ')<br />';
   }
}
class B extends A
{
}
$a = Singleton::connect( "A" );
$b = Singleton::connect( "B" );
$a->whatAmI();// should echo 'I am a A(some number)
$b->whatAmI();// should echo 'I am a B(some number)
unset( $a ) ;
$c = Singleton::connect( "A" );
$d = Singleton::connect( "B" );
$c->whatAmI();// should echo 'I am a A(same number as above)
$d->whatAmI();// should echo 'I am a B(same number as above)
$a = new A();// this should fail
$b = new B();// this should fail
?>

richard dot quadling
Singletons and subclasses will fail because __construct has to be public SOMEWHERE in the base class and cannot be hidden in sub classes. Even if the base class is an abstract class (which helps a little).
You can get abstract base class and singleton sub class working fine EXCEPT that you can create an instance of the subclass if you use new class(); rather than class::singleton();
So. After many hours of trial and error, no mixing of singletons and subclasses.

vsviridov
Singleton is a very useful pattern if you need multiple instances of different classes to use only one unique instance of common class. It's not just about having static methods.
e.g. Your database connection class probably should be a singleton, in order to spare all redundant connect calls, etc...

jimmypaterson
Since the `__CLASS__` constant is used, the Singleton pattern won't work as a Base Class which you would want to implement into your classes.
Thus the following will _not_ work:
<?php
class Singleton
{
  private static $_instance;
 
  final private function __construct() { }
  public static function getSingleton()
  {
     if(!isset(self::$_instance))
     {
        $tmpName    = __CLASS__;
        self::$_instance = new $tmpName;
     }
     return self::$_instance;
  }
 
  public function NameSingletonClass()
  {
     echo __CLASS__;
  }
  public function __clone() { }
}
class MyClass extends Singleton
{
  public function NameMyClass()
  {
     echo __CLASS__;
  }
}
$instance = MyClass::getSingleton();
$instance->NameSingletonClass();
// you'll get a nice `Call to undefined method Songleton::NameMyClass()` Error
$instance->NameMyClass();
?>
Kind of stupid if one has to write a Singleton-Pattern for each Class... or did I miss something?

axon dot wp a
Short version of Singleton:
<?php
public function __clone()
   {
       trigger_error('Clone is not allowed.', E_USER_ERROR);
   }
?>
   
is :
<?php private function __clone() {} ?>

steffen
Regarding the singleton pattern, you have to create the function for every singleton class you want to have, because settting a variable static will set the variable on all instances of the class, and second of all, by extending a singleton class, you are breaking rule No #1 of the singleton pattern. an instance of a given type may only excist ONCE, by extending the singleton class you have multiple instances of the singleton class, and by is sharing the static $instance variable.
on thing could be done though, to make sure a programmer does not make any mistakes when creating singleton classes, an interface could be made, to make sure the singleton class is correctly defined.
it could look something like this:
<?php
interface singleton {
public static function getInstance();
}
?>
however, this interface does NOT force the programmer to make the constructor private, and don't even bother to try, it would just result in a error.
sorry to say it guys, there are no easy way around this one. not even a factory class can do the job for you since, the constructor must be private, to ensure that only one instance excists.

php
Please use design patterns as they were intended:
Design patterns are designs that are known to solve common problems, such as having only 1 instance of a class. Design patterns are are not code libraries.
Most design patterns, if not all, have alternate implementations but common to them all is that the recommended implementation solves the problem.
Singleton should not be made as a class and then extended. Nor shuld __autoload be used.
Autoloading is very PHP-specific (and there might be nothing wrong with that, but design patterns are general patterns that are abstracted from the implementing language).
Making a class that you extend is very ugly. What if you have to extend that class too? You will have to make a dummy that extends your singleton class, just so you can extend the class you want. This is a very "ugly" solution that completely overrules the idea of well known design patters: A thought-though idea that works the way intended.
The manual shows a PHP implementation of the standard Singleton-pattern without "nifty" modifications.
To finish off this lesson on design patterns, I would like to ackknowledge that there is nothing wrong in tweaking patterns to suit your needs.
But remember: "If it isn't broken - don't fix it".

aya
Personally I find the aforementioned 'singleton pattern' pointless in many cases, since a class containing only static members and functions is already a 'singleton'. The code in 'Example 19-25' above could simply read:
<?php
   class Example
   {
       // Example method
       public static function bark()
       {
           echo 'Woof!';
       }
   }
   // Call 'singleton' method
   Example::bark();
?>

cortex
It's often forgotten, but a singleton class MUST be final. So it's useless to have a base class that implements the pattern and to inherit of it. That's why it's called a pattern and not a class library.
Here a little example that will show why.
<?php
class A {
// singleton pattern with getInstance static method
private $var; // A ressource variable
function __construct() {
   $this->var = "get a ressource that could only  be taken one time by process";
}
}
class B extends A {
// singleton pattern
function __construct() {
   parent::__construct();
}
}
$anA = A :: getInstance();
$aB = B :: getInstance(); // try to get a second ressource, :(
?>
When developping class A, you may have think to be the only one with a $var ressource, but it's completly wrong. As $aB is an A (Think that there is two A instanciate and one with more than just A), $anA and $aB will have a different ressource variable and thus two different database connection for eg.
You'd never know how will be used your code, so you need to make it strong. This is the way of poo thinking.

concerned coder
In the example given below by alexandre at ONLY-HAM-NOT-SPAM dot gaigalas dot net, I'm pretty sure that would always assign $i to a new instance.
I'd imagine he means something like this:
<?php
class foo
{
   static private $i;
   private function __construct()
   {
       echo "I'm alive";
   }
   static public function singleton()
   {
       return (isset(self::$i) || (($n = __CLASS__) && (self::$i = new $n)) ? self::$i : NULL;
   }
}
?>

richard dot quadling
In response to Scott Mattocks response to Jimmy Paterson ...
You cannot mix singletons and subclasses securely.
Why?
The standard way of creating a singleton is with the method ...
  // Hold an instance of the class
  private static $instance;
  // The singleton method
  public static function singleton()
  {
      if (!isset(self::$instance)) {
          $c = __CLASS__;
          self::$instance = new $c;
      }
      return self::$instance;
  }
This returns either the previously created instance or a new instance of this class.
As the constructor is private (which inhibits the manual creation of the class), you cannot alter the value of $c in the example above by passing it to the function, as suggested by Scott Mattocks.
Why? __construct() is private!!!!
self::$instance = new $c;
where $c is NOT Singleton will result in a fatal error ...
Fatal error: Call to private Singleton::__construct().
You have to have __construct() as private, otherwise you can create multiple instances of the singleton, explicit contra the reason for the pattern to start with.
Now. Say you do make the __construct() protected (can only be called from this class or subclasses), then you MAY have a little more success.
But not much ...
<?php
class Singleton
{
 // Hold an instance of the class
 private static $instance;

 // A private constructor; prevents direct creation of object
 protected function __construct()
 {
     echo 'I am constructed';
 }
 // The singleton method
 public static function singleton($classname = __CLASS__)
 {
     if (!isset(self::$instance)) {
         self::$instance = new $classname;
     }
     return self::$instance;
 }
}
class SubClass extends Singleton {
  public static function singleton()
  {
      return parent::singleton(__CLASS__); // NOTE The singleton method MUST return an instance.
  }
  public function TellMe()
  {
  echo 'You are in here.';
  }
}
$subclassInstance = SubClass::singleton();
$subclassInstance->TellMe();
?>
gives you ...
I am constructedYou are in here.
But you are not going to be able to extend this to more than 1 subclass as the singleton exists for the base class ...
<?php
class Singleton
{
 // Hold an instance of the class
 private static $instance;

 // A private constructor; prevents direct creation of object
 protected function __construct()
 {
     echo 'I am constructed';
 }
 // The singleton method
 public static function singleton($classname = __CLASS__)
 {
     if (!isset(self::$instance)) {
         self::$instance = new $classname;
     }
     return self::$instance;
 }
}
class SubClass extends Singleton {
  public static function singleton()
  {
      return parent::singleton(__CLASS__); // NOTE The singleton method MUST return an instance.
  }
  public function TellMe()
  {
  echo 'You are in here.';
  }
}
class SubClass2 extends Singleton {
  public static function singleton()
  {
      return parent::singleton(__CLASS__); // NOTE The singleton method MUST return an instance.
  }
  public function TellMeMore()
  {
  echo 'You are over here.';
  }
}
$subclassInstance = SubClass::singleton();
$subclassInstance->TellMe();
$subclass2Instance = SubClass2::singleton();
$subclass2Instance->TellMe();
?>
results in ...
I am constructedYou are in here.You are in here.
and NOT
I am constructedYou are in here.You are over here.
as you might have thought.
Basically, subclassing and singletons don't really mix.

traxer ad gmx.net
In response to Richard Quadling's response to Scott Mattock's response to Jimmy Paterson ...
The singleton pattern is a /pattern/, not a class. There is no way to move the whole functionality of 'being a singleton' into a common base class, it was not intended that way. There is no point in adding features to derived classes, other than for internal use, either. Furthermore, when I derive two classes from Singleton, the singleton is not really a singleton anymore. Considering this, I think your implementation of Singleton and SubClass (i.e your correction to Scott Mattock's) is the one that most closely matches the intention of GOF. You can allow sublasses of SubClass, though:
<?php
class Singleton {
   private static $instance;
   public static function singleton($class = __CLASS__) {
       if (!isset(self::$instance))
           self::$instance = new $classname;
       return self::$instance;
   }
}
class SubClass extends Singleton {
   public static function singleton($class = __CLASS__) {
       return parent::singleton($class);
   }
}
class SubSubClass extends SubClass {
   public static function singleton($class = __CLASS__) {
       return parent::singleton($class);
   }
}
?>
This even works with php4 if you
1. move the Singleton::$instance into function Singleton::singleton,
2. get rid of the unsuported keywords and
3. rename the Singleton::singleton method (so as not to be a constructor).
So no real imporvement here, except for the added protection of not beeing able to create objects explicitly.

scottmattocks
In respone to JimmyPaterson:
Since the singleton method isn't declared final, you can override it in the children classes. First you have to change the singleton class a little to accept a classname parameter.
class Singleton
{
  // Hold an instance of the class
  private static $instance;
 
  // A private constructor; prevents direct creation of object
  private function __construct()
  {
      echo 'I am constructed';
  }
  // The singleton method
  public static function singleton($classname)
  {
      if (!isset(self::$instance)) {
          self::$instance = new $classname;
      }
      return self::$instance;
  }
}
class SubClass extends Singleton {
   public static function singleton()
   {
       parent::singleton(__CLASS__);
   }
}
$singletonInstance = SubClass::singleton();

lukas dot starecek
If you need singleton of any class and don't want write singleton wrapper for each this class, try this:
class UniverzalSingleton {
   const EXCEPTION_NO_CLASS = 1;
   protected static $_instances = array();
   public static function getInstance($class) {
       if (!isset(self::$_instances[$class])) {
           if (!class_exists($class))
               throw (new Exception(__CLASS__ . ': Requsted class is not exist.', self::EXCEPTION_NO_CLASS));
           self::$_instances[$class] = new $class();
       } // if
       return self::$_instances[$class];
   } // getInstance
} // class UniverzalSingleton

dmnee0
I struggled a few hours on writing a simple Generic factory method for dynamic object factoring. I initially went for call_user_func_array() to create the object but that obviously didn't work. An anonymous function was what I needed. Here's the result (PHP5):
<?php
/**
* Name: Factory
* Author: Ezku
* Contact: dmnEe0 at gmail dot com
*/
class Factory
{
/**
* Generic factory method
* @param string Path to class definition
* @param string Basic class name
* @param string Derived class name
* @param array Class constructor arguments, optional
*/
public static function Generic($filename, $base, $derived, $args = array())
{
/**
* Check that the file exists
*/
if(file_exists($filename))
{
include_once $filename;
/**
* Check that the file contained the appropriate class definition
*/
if(class_exists($derived))
{
/**
* Create argument list for constructor
*/
$arglist = array();
for($i = 0, $n = count($args); $i < $n; $i++)
$arglist[] = '$args['.$i.']';
$arglist = implode(',',$arglist);

/**
* Create new instance via an anonymous function
*/
$new_class = create_function('$name, $args', 'return new $name('.$arglist.');');
return $new_class($derived, $args);
}
else
throw new Exception("Definition file ($filename) did not contain definition for the $base class <code>$derived</code>");
}
else
throw new Exception("Definition file ($filename) for the $base class <code>$derived</code> was not found");
}
}
/**
* Useless usage example:
*/
function createCat($name, $scary_eyes = FALSE, $whiskers = TRUE)
{
$path = PATH_ANIMALS.'/'.$name.'.php';
$base = 'Cat';
$derived = $name.$base;
$args = array($scary_eyes, $whiskers);
return Factory::Generic($path, $base, $derived, $args);
}
// Create a MeowCat with scary eyes and whiskers
$cat = createCat('Meow', TRUE);
// Do whatever
?>

07-may-2006 06:55
I have founded an additional way to use singleton, which made the __CLASS__ define in this function unneeded. Just by using new self; Im not sure if this is reducing the parsetime.
<?php
class Example {
   private static $instance;
   public static function getInstance() {
       if (!isset (self::$instance)) {
           self::$instance = new self;
       }
       return self::$instance;
   }
   public function printString() {
       return "I need to be printed.";
   }
}
$foo = Example::getInstance();
print $foo->printString();
?>

uvillaseca
I don't know if it's useful has a singleton that is a singleton only inside a script. By example, having the following scripts:
<?php
//index.php
require_once("Singleton.php");
$p = Singleton::getInstance();
$s = Singleton::getInstance();
?>
<?php
//Singleton.php
class Singleton {
private static $instance;
private function __construct() {

}
public static function getInstance() {
if(!isset(self::$instance)) {
echo 'creating singleton';
self::$instance = new self;
}
return self::$instance;
}
}
?>
Calls to index.php always returns the message 'creating singleton', so a new instance of the class is created for each call to index.php; and this is not the behaviour that I'd expect.
Best regards,
Ubaldo

lycboy
I don't agree to take a class with only static members and static methods as a 'singleton'. According to GoF's book, the singleton pattern means a class that only have one instance. A class containing only static members and functions still can be instantiated and extended, it have multiple instances. Consider the code below:
<?php
class StaticTest
{
private static $_test = "aaa";

public static function test()
{
echo self::$_test;
}
}
$obj = new StaticTest();
?>
The code will not report errors(although it's useless). So there can be many instances of the class.
It's reasonable that there is a class that create and store a unique instance of another class. Such as:
<?php
class A
{
private $_id = 0;
public function getId()
{
return $this->_id;
}
}
class B
{
private static $_instance;
public static function singleton()
{
if (!isset(self::$_instance)) {
self::$instance = new A();
}
return self::$instance;
}
}
?>
Here class B act as a guard to class A. But as same as the first section, it's useless too! Unless you can make sure that the users of your class will never find the class A, you shouldn't make the class you wanna to be unique can be instantiated many times.
So the best way to create a unique instance of a class is that the class save the unique instance itself. It is the core meaning of singleton pattern. Any information that mentioned here can be found in the book of GoF. I think it's worth reading the book.
BTW: It's allowed that there are a few of subclasses of a singleton class.

rashkatsa
Hi there,
As Singleton patterns are used for years in Java, today we tend toward overriding 'new' operator (as singleton returns always the same instance for every 'new' that you call...). In order to do this, we use IoC (http://www.martinfowler.com/articles/injection.html). With lightweight container, you delegate the 'new' to a specific factory which decides if it has to return a new instance on each call or always the same instance. You homogenize your code as you don't have "new MyClass()" and "MyClass2::getInstance()" but always the same call : Component::get(MyClass) and Component::get(MyClass2). [PHP implementation hint : You can choose the parameter of the get method : class, classname, ...]. It's the component which decides if it has to return a new instance or not.
If you take a look at Java Spring framework (which use getBean(Class) method) or PicoContainer (which use getComponentInstance(Class) method - see 2 minutes tutorial on their site), you can configure the behavior for your class in an XML file (choosing that ClassA is a singleton and ClassB is not). With this configuration, you don't need to pollute your class code with _instance field but you just create a standard class (non invasive pattern).
when you would have a PHP generic component (class) factory, you can go further and build a complete PHP IoC (if it not already exists :)) and then the component factory injects dependencies itself (choose through constructors or mutators).
regards,
rashkatsa.

disappear dot nz
Hi ,
Singleton Patterns are excellent ,
I have created a singleton pattern that enables any class to be loaded from the one modular singleton library.
<?php
class singleton
{
private static $o_instance = NULL ;
public static function call_singleton ( $s_class )
{
if ( class_exists ( $s_class ) )
{
if ( self :: $o_instance === NULL )
{
self :: $o_instance = new $s_class ;
}
}
return self :: $o_instance ;
}
}
?>

03-jul-2005 07:28
Here's an effective strategy for creating singletons.
1.) define an __autoload() function
2.) Define all properties of a class to be static
3.) Make the constructor private.
Now, anywhere in your code, you can simply do as follows:
Class::Function();
The __autoload() function will take care of loading the class.
It's even better when you use the auto_prepend directive to define __autoload(). Now you can create a php script which looks like this:
<?php
TemplateSystem::Start();
echo 'This is just a test!';
TemplateSystem::Stop();
?>
Now you've effectively got a 2-line solution to all templating issues, the templates will be available to every script, and the only additional overhead that you'll have for scripts that don't use the templating system is a 3-line autoload function!
Obviously, there's still a problem with __autoload() if you are attempting to write a templating system that has to work with someone else's software that also defines __autoload(). The best advice I can give here is to remove one of the __autoload()'s and modify the other to work with both.

dave miller
Here's a way to make singleton classes with no extra code other than "extends Singleton" - if you use __AutoLoad() and keep each class in a separate file that is...
<?php
abstract class Singleton {
 
 // Cannot be instantiated by any other class
 protected function __Construct() { }
 
 // Cannot be cloned ever
 private function __Clone() { }
 
 // Create/fetch an instance of the class
 static public function getInstance($ClassName = null) {
   
   static $Instance;
   
   if ($Instance) {
     return $Instance;
   } elseif ($ClassName) {
     $Instance = new $ClassName;
     return $Instance;
   } else {
     return null; // or throw exception if you want...
   }
   
 }
 
}
function __AutoLoad($ClassName) {
 include "$ClassName.php";
 if (is_subclass_of($ClassName, 'Singleton')) {
   eval($ClassName.'::getInstance($ClassName);');
 }
}
// ClassName.php
class ClassName extends Singleton {
 // ... Code ...
}
// To use
$a = ClassName::getInstance();
$a->MyFunc();
?>
Of course you could do this differently - the point is that you can use __AutoLoad() to tell the single what class it is, unlike some other ways where this is done manually every time you define a singleton class.

contact_us
Here is my PHP5 Singleton only ("no getInstances()")
<?php
#file class.singleton.php
class singleton
{
  var $instance;
  function __construct()
  {
     static $instances=array();
     $class = get_class($this);
     if(!isset($instances[$class])) $instances[$class] = $this;
     foreach(get_class_vars($class) as $var => $value)
     {
        $this->$var = &$instances[$class]->$var;
     }
     $this->instance = &$instances[$class];
  }
  function __set($name,$value)
  {
      $this->$name = $value;
      if(!isset($this->instance->$name)) $this->instance->$name = &$this->$name;
  }
}
?>
And here is the SimpleTest unit that I use
<?php
#file test.singleton.php
class singleton_example extends singleton
{
  var $x;
  var $y;
  function __construct()
  {
     parent::__construct();
  }
}
class singleton_example2 extends singleton
{
  var $x;
  var $y;
  function __construct()
  {
     parent::__construct();
  }
}
class TestOfSingleton extends UnitTestCase
{
  function TestOfSingleton()
  {
     $this->UnitTestCase();
  }
  function testSet_and_Get1()
  {
     $test1 = new singleton_example();
     $test1->x = 'a';;
     $test1->y = 'b';
     $test2 = new singleton_example();
     $test2->x = 'c';
     $test2->y = 'd';
     $test2->z = 'e';
     $test3 = new singleton_example2();
     $this->assertEqual($test1->x,'c');
     $this->assertEqual($test1->y,'d');
     $this->assertEqual($test1->z,'e');
     $this->assertEqual($test3->x,null);
     $this->assertEqual($test3->y,null);
  }
}
?>
Never failed me until now

richard dot quadling
Further to my note. If you think I called the wrong method in the last line of code ...
$subclass2Instance->TellMe();
Notice I am using the SECOND subclass but a method from the FIRST subclass. This should be the clue to see that multiple subclasses of a base singleton class don't work.
If you try to call ...
$subclass2Instance->TellMeMore();
you get, as expected, a fatal error ...
Fatal error: Call to undefined method SubClass::TellMeMore()
Hope that clarifies things.

me
For anyone who reads: anonymous at world4ch dot org
Please do not confuse the singleton for a global variable, they are nothing the same. The global keyword is a way to extract a variable from the global scope into your local scope. A singleton is a way to control class instantiation, independent of scope to a single instance.
In addition note the importance in design patterns, the ability to interchange interfaces and abstraction to allow easy adaption to a variety of needs and specifications through a single means of access is invaluable to many large scale enterprise applications. Specially pay-for software that has many system architectures to accommodate. However, the comment makes a good point to implement as necessary, the many principles don't apply to every problem domain. Do not conform your problem to a pattern, implement a pattern to your problem.

suki
cortex is right - it took me hours to figure it out. None the less it's sometimes useful to let one sigleton class extend another. You can achieve this by only using static attributes:
<?php
 class A {
   private static $value = 0;
   private static $instance = null;
   
   private function __construct() {
     $this->set(time());
   }
   
   public static function getInstance() {
     if (is_null((self::$instance))) {
       $class_name = __CLASS__;
       self::$instance = new $class_name;
     }
     
     return self::$instance;
   }
   
   private function set($i) {
     self::$value = $i;
     $this->out();
   }
   
   public function out() {
     echo self::$value;
   }
 }
 class B extends A {
   public static $instance = null;
   
   public static function getInstance() {
     parent::getInstance();
     if (is_null(self::$instance)) {
       $class = __CLASS__;
       self::$instance = new $class;
     }
     return self::$instance;
   }
 }
 $b = B::getInstance();
 $b->out();
?>
This will output the current time twice. If $value isn't static, the call to $b->out() will output 0. Maybe it can save someone some time...

jphp
Aya:
Yes, the example as it stands is pretty useless, and a static method achieves the same result much more easily.  But with a more complicated system, say you have two different ways of doing "bark":
<?php
  class Example1 {
     // singleton implementation boilerplate goes here
    public function bark() { echo "Woof"; }
  }
  class Example2 {
     // singleton implementation boilerplate goes here
    public function bark() { echo "Yap"; }
  }
 if (/* some condition */)
   $method = Example1::singleton();
 else
   $method = Example2::singleton();
 for ($i = 0; $i < 10; $i++) $method->bark();
?>

peetersdiet
As i reread my previous post i noticed 1 minor error. Namely that it is best to declare the singletonFactory()-method protected if u don't need to be able to use the method publicly. This way the implementation incorporates even better encapsulation.

dennis
An easy way to have your singleton persistent between page loads:
/**
* Returns an instance of the singleton class.
* @return object The singleton instance
*/
public static function _instance()
{
// Start a session if not already started
Session::start();

if ( false == isset( $_SESSION[ self::$_singleton_class ] ) )
{
$class = self::$_singleton_class;
$_SESSION[ self::$_singleton_class ] = new $class;
}

return $_SESSION[ self::$_singleton_class ];
}
/**
* Destroy the singleton object. Deleting the session variable in the
* destructor does not make sense since the destructor is called every
* time the script ends.
*/
public static function _destroy()
{
$_SESSION[ self::$_singleton_class ] = null;
}
/**
* Initialize the singleton object. Use instead of constructor.
*/
public function _initialize( $name )
{
// Something...
}
/**
* Prevent cloning of singleton.
*/
private function __clone()
{
trigger_error( "Cloning a singleton object is not allowed.", E_USER_ERROR );
}
private static $_singleton_class = __CLASS__;

anon
After programming a number of real world applications with PHP, I found that this version of the singleton doesn't really resemble other singleton patterns, but is the only one I've ended up using and it works great.
<?php
class User {
  /* .. your code, nothing specific matters in the class .. */
}
function user(){
   static $user;
   if(!isset($user))
       $user = new User();
   return $user;
}
//creates the user object then calls a method on it
user()->doSomething();
//calls a method on the same object
user()->doSomethingElse();
?>
Note that it is *possible* to create multiple instances of User, but in your API docs, or when you tell people how to use the class just say you are supposed to refer to it only via the user() function, and then there should be no reason to enforce it in your code any other way.
Also note that this syntax is only possible in PHP 5 because of the object / function dereferencing feature.  user()->someMethod(); will throw a fatal error in 4.x

anonymous
A singleton is the "enterprise professional scalable business solution" version of a global variable. It'd be a good idea if this were the IOCCC, but since it isn't, it's better to simply say:
global $lol;
It's also faster and more maintainable, and has the same advantages and disadvantages.
Also, I'll advise against all "enterprise object-oriented industry-standard design patterns". Some of these patterns are correct, but their existence is not. Programming is not about copypasta. It's about thinking, abstracting and combinating. If you can't think of these patterns for yourself when you need them — and in the case of needing them, manage to abstract them so that your code doesn't become a copypasta fest, then you shouldn't be programming in the first place.
Furthermore, the existence of software patterns is a proof of the object-oriented model shortcomings. You shouldn't ever need to do any copypasta in your code. If something is done two or more times, you abstract it. And the language should support a way for you to. There's no reason for a "design pattern" to exist more than once, and since they are trivial (they better be trivial to you, if you are programming), you don't need to study them.
The best advice I can give you is that instead of reading "design patterns", you read Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (SICP), a book freely available from MIT where you will learn what you need to program properly in any programming language.

eyvindh79
A pure extendable(multiple sublevels) Singleton class in PHP seems impossible at the moment because of the way PHP handles static inheritance, but my class is close to what i want.
Very simple usage:
<?php
class Test extends Singleton {
public static function getInstance(){
return Singleton::getSingleton(get_class());
}
}
?>
Singleton class implementation:
<?php
class Singleton {
/***********************
* HOW TO USE
*
* Inherit(extend) from Singleton and add getter:
*
*  //public getter for singleton instance
* public static function getInstance(){
* return Singleton::getSingleton(get_class());
* }
*
*/

private static $instanceMap = array();
//protected getter for singleton instances
protected static function getSingleton($className){
if(!isset(self::$instanceMap[$className])){

$object = new $className;
//Make sure this object inherit from Singleton
if($object instanceof Singleton){
self::$instanceMap[$className] = $object;
}
else{
throw SingletonException("Class '$className' do not inherit from Singleton!");
}
}

return self::$instanceMap[$className];
}

//protected constructor to prevent outside instantiation
protected function __construct(){
}

//denie cloning of singleton objects
   public final function __clone(){
trigger_error('It is impossible to clone singleton', E_USER_ERROR);
}
}
?>
Just a simple test case:
<?php
class A extends Singleton {

protected $rndId;

protected function __construct(){
$this->rndId = rand();
}

public function whatAmI(){
echo 'I am a A('.$this->rndId.')<br />';
}
public static function getInstance(){
return Singleton::getSingleton(get_class());
}
}
class B extends A {
public function whatAmI(){
echo 'I am a B('.$this->rndId.')<br />';
}

public static function getInstance(){
return Singleton::getSingleton(get_class());
}
}
$a = A::getInstance();
$b = B::getInstance();
$a->whatAmI();// should echo 'I am a A(some number)
$b->whatAmI();// should echo 'I am a B(some number)
$a = A::getInstance();
$b = B::getInstance();
$a->whatAmI();// should echo 'I am a A(same number as above)
$b->whatAmI();// should echo 'I am a B(same number as above)
$a = new A();// this should fail
$b = new B();// this should fail
?>
I hope this helps.
-Eyvind-

alexandre
A minimalistic singleton implementation I create for my new framework
<?php
class foo
{
   static private $i;
   private function __construct()
   {
       echo "I'm alive";
   }
   static public function singleton()
   {
       return ((isset(self::$i) || $n = __CLASS__) && self::$i = new $n) ? self::$i : NULL;
   }
}
?>

peetersdiet
@ steffen at morkland dot com:
Interesting problem and u are right about always having to put the non-public constructor and public singleton-method in the classes that need to be singletons. U are also right about an interface not being able to declare a constructor private or protected.
Why not store all singletons in a static variable of a common parent class and make singleton-capability available to all childclasses? We can accomplish this by adding a hybrid singletonFactory()-method in that parent class and make the constructor of the childclass protected to enforce the singleton-pattern. At this moment all childclasses can be a singleton! Not to robust.
U can have childclasses implement the Singleton-interface as specified in ur post so classes can be tested on implementing this interface. If u always implement the interface on ur singleton-classes u can add a test to the singletonFactory()-method to check whether the class u are about to instantiate does implement the Singleton-interface. Together with the enforced prototyping of the singleton()-method this provides a more foolproof usage of the singleton-pattern.
The singleton code is implemented in the parent so no rewriting of the code is necessary, thus avoiding programmer mistakes in the childclasses and keeping the code cleaner to the eye. The only methods the childclass needs are a protected constructor to avoid direct instantiation and a wrapping singleton()-method.
<?php
// As stated by steffen we can't restrict visibility of the constructor in an interface
interface Singleton {
   public static function singleton();
}
// Parent class:
// U can define these methods at the highest level so the singleton-functionality
// is available to all objects, but it works at all levels of an object hierarchy.
class ParentClass {
   private static $childSingletons = array();  // store singletons for each childclass
   
   public static function singletonFactory($class='')
   {
       if (!isset(self::$childSingletons[$class])) {   // singleton not loaded?
           if (include_once($class.'.php')) {  // classfile included?
               $thisClass = __CLASS__;
               $object = new $class;
               if ($object instanceof $thisClass) { // class is childclass? (so we can access the protected constructor)
                   $classImplements = class_implements($object);
                   if (isset($classImplements['Singleton'])) {   // class implements Singleton?
                       self::$childSingletons[$class] = new $class;
                   } else {
                       throw new Exception ('Class \''.$class.'\' does not implement interface Singleton');
                   }
               } else {
                   throw new Exception ('Unknown class \''.$class.'\'');
               }
           } else {
               throw new Exception ('Class \''.$class.'\' not found');
           }
       }
       return self::$childSingletons[$class];
   }
}
// Child class:
// 1. Define the constructor as protected.
// 2. Implement interface Singleton ...
//      ... to enforce prototype of singleton()
//      ... to be able to dynamically identify the class as a singleton.
// 3. Define the singleton()-method acting as a wrapper for the parent's singletonFactory()-method.
class ChildClass extends ParentClass implements Singleton{
   protected function __construct() {}
   
   public static function singleton() {
       return parent::singletonFactory(__CLASS__);
   }
}
// public usage
$singleton = ChildClass::singleton();
?>
If u prefer more loose programming u can leave the Singleton interface out of the picture alltogether and create your childsingletons directly with the singletonFactory()-method. This approach only needs the protected constructor(), no singleton()-method. I know this approach allows all the childclasses to be treated as singletons. In my opinion this is not a problem, but the lack of robustness and absence of dynamic testability is. ;)

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