How to call grandparent method without getting E_STRICT error?

Question

Sometimes I need to execute grandparent method (that is, bypass the parent method), I know this is code smell, but sometimes I can\'t change the other classes (frameworks, l

Answer 1

You can call the grandparent directly by name (does not need Reflection, nor call_user_func).

class Base {
    protected function getFoo() {
        return 'Base';
    }
}

class Child extends Base {
    protected function getFoo() {
        return parent::getFoo() . ' Child';
    }
}

class Grandchild extends Child {
    protected function getFoo() {
        return Base::getFoo() . ' Grandchild';
    }
}

The Base::getFoo call may look like a static call (due to the colon :: syntax), however it is not. Just like parent:: isn't static, either.

Calling a method from the inheritance chain within a class will correctly bind the $this value, invoke it as a regular method, honour the visibility rules (e.g. protected), and is not a violation of any kind!

This may look a bit strange at first, but, this is the way to do it in PHP.