#26350 [Opn]: Inherited methods can't access private fields

ID: 26350 User updated by: forseti at oak dot rpg dot pl -Summary: Inherited methods can't access private methods Reported By: forseti at oak dot rpg dot pl Status: Open Bug Type: Zend Engine 2 problem Operating System: * PHP Version: 5.0.0b2 (beta2) New Comment: Summary correction (can't access private fields of course) Previous Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2003-11-21 09:29:13] forseti at oak dot rpg dot pl Description: ------------ When a method is inherited from a base class it seems that it retains its context. When it's called from derived class object, it turns out that method cannot access private fields of it's own (derived class) object. What's strange, the inherited method can access protected fields easily. As if 'protected' opened access not only for derived classes but for base classes too. This is a key issue if one wants to code the accessor only once, in base class so that any derived class could use it and provide read-only access to any field. Reproduce code: --------------- <?php class ParentClass { protected $a = 'ParentClass<br>'; public function get($arg) { return $this->$arg; } } class ChildClass extends ParentClass{ protected $b = 'ChildClass - Protected<br>'; private $c = 'ChildClass - Private<br>'; } $test = new ChildClass; echo $test->get('a'); echo $test->get('c'); //fatal error echo $test->get('b'); //strange - it's ok ?> Expected result: ---------------- ParentClass ChildClass - Protected ChildClass - Private Anyway, 'protected' field should be accessible only in derived classes and where declared. Actual result: -------------- ParentClass ChildClass - Protected Fatal error: Cannot access private property childclass::$c ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Edit this bug report at http://bugs.php.net/?id=26350&edit=1