How to use Traits - Laravel 5.2

Question

I'm new to Traits, but I have a lot of code that is repeating in my functions, and I want to use Traits to make the code less messy. I have made a Traits directory in my Http directory with a Trait called BrandsTrait.php. And all it does is call on all Brands. But when I try to call BrandsTrait in my Products Controller, like this:

use App\Http\Traits\BrandsTrait;  class ProductsController extends Controller {      use BrandsTrait;      public function addProduct() {          //$brands = Brand::all();          $brands = $this->BrandsTrait();          return view('admin.product.add', compact('brands'));     } } 

it gives me an error saying Method [BrandsTrait] does not exist. Am I suppose to initialize something, or call it differently?

Here is my BrandsTrait.php

<?php namespace App\Http\Traits;  use App\Brand;  trait BrandsTrait {     public function brandsAll() {         // Get all the brands from the Brands Table.         Brand::all();     } } 

Answer 1

Think of traits like defining a section of your class in a different place which can be shared by many classes. By placing use BrandsTrait in your class it has that section.

What you want to write is

$brands = $this->brandsAll(); 

That is the name of the method in your trait.

Also - don't forget to add a return to your brandsAll method!

Answer 2

use App\Http\Traits\BrandsTrait;  class ProductsController extends Controller {      use BrandsTrait;      public function addProduct() {          //$brands = Brand::all();          $brands = $this->brandsAll();          return view('admin.product.add', compact('brands'));     } }