Is it possible to add data members dynamically in PHP?

Question

I'm wondering if its possible to add new class data members at run-time in PHP?

Answer 1

Yes.

$prop = 'newname';
$obj->$prop = 42;

will do the same thing as:

$obj->newname = 42;

Either one will add "newname" as a property in $obj if it does not yet exist.

Answer 2

It is. You can add public members are run time with no additional code, and can affect protected/private members using the magical overloading methods __get() / __set(). See here for more details.