What is the difference between cloning a class and extending a class in PHP?

Cloning a class in PHP involves creating a new instance of the class with the same properties and methods as the original class. On the other hand, extending a class in PHP involves creating a new class that inherits properties and methods from the original class, allowing for additional functionality to be added. 

// Cloning a class
class OriginalClass {
    public $property = 'value';
    
    public function method() {
        return 'method called';
    }
}

$original = new OriginalClass();
$cloned = clone $original;

// Extending a class
class OriginalClass {
    public $property = 'value';
    
    public function method() {
        return 'method called';
    }
}

class ExtendedClass extends OriginalClass {
    public function newMethod() {
        return 'new method called';
    }
}

$extended = new ExtendedClass();

Keywords

cloning class extending PHP difference

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