How this class and sub methods use works?

Question

I have been browsing some php source code and need to know how the following class and sub methods use works:

<?php
$me = new Person;
$me->name("Franky")->surname("Chanyau")->phone("+22", "456 789");
?>

I have pretty solid knowledge of OOP so I don't want a 101. I just need to know how to make the above code possible.

Answer 1

Method chaining is possible, by

return $this;

at the end of the method.

Explained here: phpandstuff: Method Chaining Plus Magic Setters

These methods usually set an instance variable and then just return $this.

public function phone($param) {
  $this->phone = $param;
  return $this;
}