PHP Access Modifiers

Access modifiers are keywords that define the **visibility** of class properties and methods. They control where a specific property or method can be accessed from, which is a core part of a concept called **Encapsulation**.

The Three Access Modifiers

PHP provides three main keywords to control access:

Modifier	Description
`public`	The property or method can be accessed from anywhere (default).
`protected`	Can only be accessed within the class itself and by derived (child) classes.
`private`	Can only be accessed within the class itself.

1. The public Modifier

Properties and methods declared as public are accessible from outside the class. If you don't specify a modifier, PHP treats them as public by default.

<?php
    class Fruit {
        public $name; // Public property
    }

    $apple = new Fruit();
    $apple->name = "Apple"; // OK: can be accessed from outside
?>

2. The protected Modifier

The protected modifier restricts access to the class itself and any class that **inherits** (extends) it. You cannot access it from outside these classes.

<?php
    class Fruit {
        protected $name;
    }

    $apple = new Fruit();
    $apple->name = "Apple"; // Error: Cannot access protected property
?>

Tip: Use protected when you want to allow child classes to use a property while keeping it hidden from the rest of the application.

3. The private Modifier

The private modifier is the most restrictive. A private property or method can only be accessed within the specific class where it is defined. Not even child classes can access it.

<?php
    class Fruit {
        private $name;
    }

    $apple = new Fruit();
    $apple->name = "Apple"; // Error: Cannot access private property
?>

Why use Private? It prevents accidental modification of sensitive data and allows you to change the internal logic of a class without affecting other parts of your code.

Summary Comparison

Access From	Public	Protected	Private
Same Class	Yes	Yes	Yes
Child Class	Yes	Yes	No
Outside Class	Yes	No	No

Good Practice: A common pattern is to make properties private or protected and provide public methods (getters and setters) to interact with them.

What's Next?

Now that you know how to control access, let's explore how one class can inherit properties and methods from another in the **PHP Inheritance** lesson.

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