How Laravel Traits are Different from the Helpers in PHP

In this article, we will discuss “How Laravel traits are different from the helpers in PHP“.

Traits have been mainly added to PHP as PHP never allows multiple inheritances i.e., a class couldn’t expand more than one class at once. This becomes laborious when you need functionality declared in two different classes that are being used by other classes as well, and the result is that you would have to replicate code in order to get the task done without tangling yourself up in a haze of cobwebs.

The traits allow us to declare a type of class that carries methods that could be reused. Better still, their methods can be injected into any class in a straight line you are supposed to use, and you can have the facility to use multiple traits in the same class.

Trait Example

// Trait Example
trait SayHello
{
    private function hello()
    {
        echo 'Hello Reader';
    }
}

class CB_HelloWorld
{
    use SayHello;
    public function __construct()
    {
        $this->hello();
    }
}

$message = new CB_HelloWorld(); // returns "Hello World";

Difference

From the above example, you must see, the trait is used in another class and starts working. But, in case, you wish to use the normal random class, the Helper class is recommended well. You can use the function of the helper class in another class through Helper::method()if static, otherwise we have to create an instance of helper class then call the required function.

// Helper class example

class Helper {
   // Static function
   public static function helpr() {
      echo 'This is helper function';
   }
}

// Class User, where we use the helper class

class User {
   public function getData() {
      $msg = Helper::helpr();
      echo $msg;
   }
}

$user = new User;
echo $user->getData();

Where we can use traits and helpers?

It absolutely depends upon what you wish to do, on the context of development that you’re going to do. When we consider traits place in a significant architecture and the traits should be used for what they are such as shared implementation or for shared encapsulation. Hence, they should not substitute interfaces but remain behind them.

PHP-specific interfaces are known as the construction tools whereas traits are known as the implementation tools. And remember, the Interfaces generally appear before implementations. It only depends upon abstract/interfaces and not depends upon concrete/details.

Hence, it’s recommended to keep in mind that traits never construct app architectures no more they create class contracts but remain behind them.

Helper PHP functions in Laravel

Laravel has different types of global “helper” PHP functions such as arrays & objects that are array_add, array_divide, array_collapse, array_dot, array_except, and many more. Similarly, data and object types are data_fill, data_get, data_set, and many more.

Laravel traits vs helpers

Helpers functions are used by the framework itself and also, you can use them in your own applications as per your convenience. Also, you can create custom helper functions.

Traits are commonly utilized code. You can write a trait and can utilize it anywhere you desire.

I Hope, you must have got the detail of the difference between Laravel traits and helpers in PHP.

If any query feels free to add in comments 🙂

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