$this Must Be The Local Object¶

$this used to be a variable like any other, except for being filled with the local object in a method.

Since PHP 7.1, it is now only used for this purpose. This means that $this cannot be used outside a class, an enumeration or a trait, and for any other purpose.

PHP code¶

<?php

var_dump($this);

?>

Before¶

PHP Notice:  Undefined variable: this in /codes/thisMustBeInObject.php on line 3

Notice: Undefined variable: this in /codes/thisMustBeInObject.php on line 3
NULL

After¶

PHP Fatal error:  Uncaught Error: Using $this when not in object context in /codes/thisMustBeInObject.php:3
Stack trace:
#0 {main}
  thrown in /codes/thisMustBeInObject.php on line 3

Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Using $this when not in object context in /codes/thisMustBeInObject.php:3
Stack trace:
#0 {main}
  thrown in /codes/thisMustBeInObject.php on line 3

PHP version change¶

This behavior changed in 7.1

Error Messages¶

Using $this when not in object context