Bug #81608 [Opn->Nab]: I can access protected variable as public.

Edit report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=81608&edit=1 ID: 81608 Updated by: requinix@php.net Reported by: rolandszabo62 at gmail dot com Summary: I can access protected variable as public. -Status: Open +Status: Not a bug Type: Bug Package: Class/Object related Operating System: CentOS Linux release 8.4.2105 PHP Version: 7.4.25 Block user comment: N Private report: N New Comment: protected means that child classes can access it. $database is defined in Model and Cat is a child class of Model. Doesn't matter that $dog is an instance of Dog. Previous Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2021-11-11 02:17:53] rolandszabo62 at gmail dot com Description: ------------ $dog->database->insert(); ////WHY THIS WORKS? "database" beeing a protected variable in Model class Test script: --------------- <?php final class Database { public $connection = "database connection stream"; public function insert () { echo "inserted\n"; } } abstract class Model { protected $database = null; public function __construct () { $this->database = new Database(); } } class Dog extends Model { public function __construct () { parent::__construct(); } } class Cat extends Model { public function testProtected() { $dog = new Dog(); $dog->database->insert(); ////WHY THIS WORKS? "database" beeing a protected variable in Model class } } $cat = new Cat(); $cat->testProtected(); ?> Expected result: ---------------- I expect that $dog->database->insert(); gives me "Cannot access protected property Dog::$database Actual result: -------------- it works for some reason. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Edit this bug report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=81608&edit=1