PHP Namespace 5.3 and WordPress Widget

Question

I am using namespaces.

I try to create a WordPress widget (http://codex.wordpress.org/Widgets_API)

With namespaces the following gives an error because the arguments can not be passed (and without namespaces it obviously works like usual)

 namespace a\b\c;
 class whatever extends \WP_Widget {
   function whatever() {
     parent::WP_Widget('name1', 'name2');
   }
 // .. other functions left out
 }
 add_action('widgets_init',
 create_function('', 'return register_widget("a\b\c\whatever");'));

uhm... what is the correct syntax for 'parent::WP_Widget' using namespaces?

(the COMPLETE error message is:

Warning: Missing argument 2 for WP_Widget::__construct(), called in 
C:\xampp\htdocs\wp2\wp-includes\widgets.php on line 324 and defined in 
C:\xampp\htdocs\wp2\wp-includes\widgets.php on line 93

)

And the debugger shows nothing has been passed:

Variables in local scope (#14)
$control_options = Undefined
$id_base = boolean false 
$name = Undefined
$widget_options =  Undefined

(only the $name is required)

Answer 1

Looking at the documentation located here it seems that only the name is required but the way PHP works your have to have the pre variables defined as well.

You have two ways of creating the class:

• A:
  • WP_Widget __construct ([string $id_base = false], string $name, [array $widget_options = array()], [array $control_options = array()])
• B:
  • WP_Widget WP_Widget ([ $id_base = false], $name, [ $widget_options = array()], [ $control_options = array()])

By preference you should always use the __construct method to initialize your object, i would rewrite you code like so:

namespace a\b\c;

class whatever extends \WP_Widget
{
    function __construct()
    {
        parent::__construct('name1', 'name2');
    }

    /*
         * Other methods!
    */
}

The WP_Widget::WP_Widget(..) method is for PHP4 only, and should not be used in PHP 5 or higher.

Now it seems that your using PHP 5.3 as your using name spaces so you can do the following:

add_action('widgets_init', function() {
    return register_widget(new a\b\c\whatever);
});

Answer 2

It seems to me your problem is not in the namespaces, the following code works like a charm:

<?php
namespace Foo;

class Bar {
    function __construct( $foo ) {
        echo "$foo\n";
    }
}

namespace Foo\Bar;

class Foo extends \Foo\Bar {
    function __construct( ) {
        parent::__construct( "This should work." );
    }
}

$foo = new \Foo\Bar\Foo( );

If you get an error message, it might be helpful to state what it says.

Answer 3

You want to call a parent method? Simply use parent::MethodName();

If you want to call the parent constructor, use parent::__construct() - if your constructor is named like the class, rename it to __construct which is the preferred name for a constructor for years...

Answer 4

This worked fine for me:

add_action('widgets_init', function() {                 
    register_widget('\a\b\c\whatever');
});