NAME

@super - Change context to a parent class

SYNOPSIS

@super.methodName [args...]

DESCRIPTION

The @super keyword can be used to call a parent class’s version of an overridden method from within a child class. This is used when extending parent method functionality while preserving the original behavior.

The actual behavior of @super is only to change the context to the parent class of the current object before continuing member resolution. Using it is functionally equivalent to using the @this pointer, except that it considers the current object as an instance of its immediate parent class.

Key behaviors:

Static Resolution: Any referenced method is resolved at compile-time, meaning it will always call the parent class’s method, even if the child class overrides it.
Context Change: It temporarily changes the context to the parent class of the current object before continuing member resolution.

EXAMPLE

@class Parent {
	@virtual @public @method greet {
		echo "Hello from Parent"
	}
}

@class Child : Parent {
	@public @method greet {
		@super.greet  # Calls Parent.greet
		echo "Hello from Child"
	}
}

NOTES

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS

Since @super merely changes the context to the parent class, it can be used in any context where @this would be used. This includes method calls, data member accesses, etc. However, @super does not bypass access restrictions: if the parent class’s method or data member is private, it cannot be accessed by a child class, even with @super.

Because @super changes context to the parent class before continuing resolution, it is not possible to use @super to access a method or data member that is only defined in the child class.

TOPRIMITIVE

Calling @super.toPrimitive will result in the parent class’s version of the toPrimitive method being called, even if the child class has overridden it.

This is true even when the call to toPrimitive is implicit, i.e., when a non-primitive object is referenced where a primitive is expected – in this case, by dereferencing with *@super in such a context.

For example, consider echo *@super. Firstly, dereferencing the pointer tells the compiler to treat the pointer as it would treat a non-primitive object. Secondly, referencing a non-primitive object in that context implicitly calls toPrimitive. Finally, because @super changes the context to the parent class, the parent class’s version of toPrimitive will be called.

LIMITATIONS

Using @super only accesses the immediate parent class. It cannot traverse further up the class hierarchy.