Overriding static members in derived classes in PHP

Question

<?php
class Base {
  protected static $c = 'base';

  public static function getC() {
    return self::$c;
  }
}

class Derived extends Base {
  protected static $c = 'derived';
}

echo Base::getC(); // output "base"
echo Derived::getC();    // output "base", but I need "derived" here!
?>

So what's the best workaround?

Answer 1

The best way to solve this is to upgrade to PHP 5.3, where late static bindings are available. If that's not an option, you'll unfortunately have to redesign your class.

Answer 2

Based on deceze's and Undolog's input: Undolog is right, for PHP <= 5.2 .

But with 5.3 and late static bindings it will work , just use static instead of self inside the function - now it will work...//THX @ deceze for the hint

for us copy past sample scanning stackoverflow users - this will work:

class Base {
  protected static $c = 'base';
  public static function getC() {
    return static::$c; // !! please notice the STATIC instead of SELF !!
  }
}

class Derived extends Base {
  protected static $c = 'derived';
}

echo Base::getC();      // output "base"
echo Derived::getC();   // output "derived"