How to Create an Object Without Class in PHP

1. Use new stdClass()to Create an Object Without a Class in PHP
2. Typecast an Array Into an Object Using the object Data Type to Create an Object Without Creating a Class
3. Use the json_dencode() Function to Create an Object Without Creating a Class in PHP

This article will introduce methods to create an object without creating a class in PHP.

Use new stdClass()to Create an Object Without a Class in PHP

We can create an object from the stdClass() without making a base class in PHP. We can use the new operator to create an object of the stdClass(). The object can access the properties directly by calling them. Thus, we can create dynamic objects and properties using the stdClass(). The compiler creates an instance of the stdClass() when an array is typecasted to an object.

For example, create a variable $object and store an instance of the stdClass() created by the new operator. Call a variable property from the $object object and assign a string. Assign the string, I am an object's property. Use the backslash \ to escape the apostrophe in the text. Apply the var_dump() function on the $object variable to dump the information about the variable.

In the example below, we created an object of the stdClass(), and we instantly assigned a value to the object’s property. When we dump the object, we will see the object of the stdClass class created in the output. Thus, we can create an object without creating a base class in PHP.

Example Code:

#php 7.x
<?php
$object = new stdClass();
$object->property = 'I am an object\'s property';
var_dump($object);
?>

Output:

object(stdClass)#1 (1) { ["property"]=> string(25) "I am an object's property" }

Typecast an Array Into an Object Using the object Data Type to Create an Object Without Creating a Class

We can create an object without creating a class in PHP, typecasting a type into an object using the object data type. We can typecast an array into a stdClass object. The object keyword is wrapped around with parenthesis right before the array typecasts the array into the object. We can use the var_dump() function as the first method to see the information about the typecasted object.

For example, create a variable $place and store an array in it. The array contains keys as city and country and the respective values as Pokhara and Nepal. Assign the $place variable to a new $obj variable. Write the object data type wrapped inside a parenthesis just before the $place variable. Call the var_dump() function with the $obj as parameter.

The example below typecasts an array into an object. The var_dump() function shows the $obj object in the output section. It shows that it is a stdClass object. Check the PHP Manual to know how typecasting works.

Code Example:

#php 7.x
<?php
$place = ['city' => 'Pokhara', 'country' =>'Nepal'];
$obj = (object) $place;
var_dump($obj);
?>

Output:

object(stdClass)#1 (2) { ["city"]=> string(7) "Pokhara" ["country"]=> string(5) "Nepal" }

Use the json_dencode() Function to Create an Object Without Creating a Class in PHP

The json_decode() function converts the JSON string into a PHP object. The function takes a string parameter which will be converted into an object. The function also takes an optional boolean parameter. The default value of this boolean parameter is false, which will convert the JSON object into a PHP object. If the value is true, it will convert the JSON object into an associative array.

For example, create a variable $jsonobj and store a JSON object into it. The object contains Harry, Tony and Juan as the key and the integer values 27, 24 and 32 as the respective values. The key-value pairs are enclosed within the curly braces. The JSON object is wrapped around with quotes as a string. Then use the json_decode() function on the $jsonobj variables. Apply the var_dump() function to the json_encode() function to display the information about the encoded object.

In the example below, json_encode() function converts the JSON object to PHP object of stdClass. The var_dump() function shows the property and the value of the object. Thus, we created an object without creating a class in PHP. It also displays the type of the value. Please check the PHP Manual to understand more about the json_decode() function.

Example Code:

# php 7.x
<?php
$jsonobj = '{"Harry":27,"Tony":24,"Juan":32}';
var_dump(json_decode($jsonobj));
?>

Output:

object(stdClass)#1 (3) { ["Harry"]=> int(27) ["Tony"]=> int(24) ["Juan"]=> int(32) }