oliverdavies.uk/content/node.70c71a01-1c5a-4b25-8706-d02a4284662e.yml

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title:
  - value: 'Using readonly in PHP'
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      <p>Since PHP 8.1, properties on PHP classes have been able to be marked as <code>readonly</code>.</p>

      <p>Once they've been set, they can't be changed or overwritten.</p>

      <p>This is great for data transfer objects (DTOs) that you want to be immutable and know the values are the same as when they were set.</p>

      <p>Here's an example:</p>

      <pre><code class="php">class MyDto {

        public function __construct(
          public readonly string $name,
          public readonly int $age,
        ) {
        }

      }
      </code></pre>

      <p>I don't need to make the properties private or protected and write getter methods for them.</p>

      <p>I can make them public,  knowing the values can't be changed.</p>

      <h2 id="readonly-classes">readonly classes</h2>

      <p>Since PHP 8.2, the entire class can be <code>readonly</code>, making the code cleaner and easier to read.</p>

      <p>This class does the same as the previous example:</p>

      <pre><code class="php">readonly class MyDto {

        public function __construct(
          public string $name,
          public int $age,
        ) {
        }

      }
      </code></pre>

      <h2 id="here%27s-the-thing">Here's the thing</h2>

      <p>This is a great example of how the PHP language continues to evolve and improve, and it's been a great way to make it easier to keep my code clean and with fewer bugs.</p>

      <p>If you want a way to easily add <code>readonly</code> to properties or classes, <a href="/daily/2025/01/31/rector">take a look at Rector</a> which can automate it for you.</p>

              
    format: full_html
    processed: |
      <p>Since PHP 8.1, properties on PHP classes have been able to be marked as <code>readonly</code>.</p>

      <p>Once they've been set, they can't be changed or overwritten.</p>

      <p>This is great for data transfer objects (DTOs) that you want to be immutable and know the values are the same as when they were set.</p>

      <p>Here's an example:</p>

      <pre><code class="php">class MyDto {

        public function __construct(
          public readonly string $name,
          public readonly int $age,
        ) {
        }

      }
      </code></pre>

      <p>I don't need to make the properties private or protected and write getter methods for them.</p>

      <p>I can make them public,  knowing the values can't be changed.</p>

      <h2 id="readonly-classes">readonly classes</h2>

      <p>Since PHP 8.2, the entire class can be <code>readonly</code>, making the code cleaner and easier to read.</p>

      <p>This class does the same as the previous example:</p>

      <pre><code class="php">readonly class MyDto {

        public function __construct(
          public string $name,
          public int $age,
        ) {
        }

      }
      </code></pre>

      <h2 id="here%27s-the-thing">Here's the thing</h2>

      <p>This is a great example of how the PHP language continues to evolve and improve, and it's been a great way to make it easier to keep my code clean and with fewer bugs.</p>

      <p>If you want a way to easily add <code>readonly</code> to properties or classes, <a href="/daily/2025/01/31/rector">take a look at Rector</a> which can automate it for you.</p>

              
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