Difference between object and class in PHP?

Question

What is the difference between Object and Class in PHP? I ask because, I don't really see the point to both of them.

Can you tell me the difference with a good example?

Answer 1

I assume you have read the manual on basic PHP OOP.

A class is what you use to define the properties, methods and behavior of objects. Objects are the things you create out of a class. Think of a class as a blueprint, and an object as the actual building you build by following the blueprint (class). (Yes, I know the blueprint/building analogy has been done to death.)

// Class class MyClass {     public $var;      // Constructor     public function __construct($var) {         echo 'Created an object of MyClass';         $this->var = $var;     }      public function show_var() {         echo $this->var;     } }  // Make an object $objA = new MyClass('A');  // Call an object method to show the object's property $objA->show_var();  // Make another object and do the same $objB = new MyClass('B'); $objB->show_var(); 

The objects here are distinct (A and B), but they are both objects of the MyClass class. Going back to the blueprint/building analogy, think of it as using the same blueprint to build two different buildings.

Here's another snippet that actually talks about buildings if you need a more literal example:

// Class class Building {     // Object variables/properties     private $number_of_floors = 5; // Each building has 5 floors     private $color;      // Constructor     public function __construct($paint) {         $this->color = $paint;     }      public function describe() {         printf('This building has %d floors. It is %s in color.',              $this->number_of_floors,              $this->color         );     } }  // Build a building and paint it red $bldgA = new Building('red');  // Build another building and paint it blue $bldgB = new Building('blue');  // Tell us how many floors these buildings have, and their painted color $bldgA->describe(); $bldgB->describe();