Automatic class loading
Note: This page is a work-in-progress. Feedback and suggested improvements are welcome. Please join the discussion on moodle.org or use the page comments.
Moodle 2.6
Class naming
All plugin class names must start with Frankenstyle prefix such as mod_forum_. All core classes must start with core_ prefix.
Class file names and locations
PHP files with class definitions must be stored in classes/ subdirectory inside your plugin, for example mod/forum/classes/. Core classes can be stored either in lib/classes/ or in subsystemdir/classes/ subdirectory.
The name of the class file is without the frankenstyle prefix, for example class mod_forum_some_class is stored in file mod/forum/classes/some_class.php, core_frankenstyle class is stored in lib/classes/frankenstyle.php.
Examples
Example of autoloadated class in forum module:
<?php
// file mod/forum/classes/some_class.php
class mod_forum_some_class {
}
<?php
// file mod/forum/lib.php
// no require_once() necessary here
$instance = new mod_forum_some_class();
<?php
// in any file
if (class_exists('mod_forum_some_class')) {
// do something
}
Namespaces
Backwards compatibility
There are no know issues that could cause backwards incompatibility, however it is strongly recommended to use the classes subdirectory only for classes that are included automatically.
Performance and developer mode
Class autoloading improves performance and reduces memory footprint. Location of all classes is automatically stored in class map cache, the cache is updated automatically before upgrade or installation, during cache reset and in developer mode.
There is only one inconvenience - if you add new class or remove it you need to do one of the following:
- visit yourserver/admin/index/
- purge cache
- or add $CFG->debug = (E_ALL | E_STRICT); to your config.php
Otherwise the new class would not be found.
