Getter Method

A getter method exposes a private value without exposing direct writes.

getter_method.php

<?php
class Account
{
    public function __construct(private int $balance)
    {
    }

    public function balance(): int
    {
        return $this->balance;
    }
}

$start = ;
$balance = (new Account($start))->balance();

echo "start=" . $start . "\n";
echo "balance=" . $balance . "\n";

<?php
class Account
{
    public function __construct(private int $balance)
    {
    }

    public function balance(): int
    {
        return $this->balance;
    }
}

$start = ;
$balance = (new Account($start))->balance();

echo "start=" . $start . "\n";
echo "balance=" . $balance . "\n";

<?php
class Account
{
    public function __construct(private int $balance)
    {
    }

    public function balance(): int
    {
        return $this->balance;
    }
}

$start = ;
$balance = (new Account($start))->balance();

echo "start=" . $start . "\n";
echo "balance=" . $balance . "\n";

controlled read The object can keep its stored value private while still returning a scalar value.