What Is A Method In Programming?

Table of contents

• Definition
• Example
• Summary

Definition

A method is a function [→] that is part of a class [→].

Example

🚫 Wrap Code📋 Copy
01: <?php 
02: 
03: class Car {
04: 
05:     public $make = [];
06: 
07:     public function __construct($brand, $model, $year, $start=true) {
08:         $this->make = [
09:             'brand' => $brand,
10:             'model' => $model,
11:             'year' => $year
12:         ];
13:         return $this->startOrStop($start);
14:     }
15: 
16:     public function accelerate() {
17:         // acceleration method
18:         return $this;
19:     }
20: 
21:     public function break() {
22:         // breaking method
23:         return $this;
24:     }
25: 
26:     public function moveLeft() {
27:         // direction method
28:         return $this;
29:     }
30: 
31:     public function moveRight() {
32:         // direction method
33:         return $this;
34:     }
35: 
36:     public function startOrStop($state) {
37:         // ignition method
38:         return $this;
39:     }
40: 
41: }

The functions accelerate, break, moveLeft, moveRight, startOrStop in the code above are all methods of the Car class.

Summary

A method unlike a generic function has direct access to other properties/data within its defined class whereas with generic functions you have to explicitly pass the data to it.

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