LoggerTrait: The Good (or Bad) approach to Logging

A log. Image from PublicDomainPictures by Pixabay.

What is a Trait?

Generically, a Trait is a concept used in object-oriented programming, that allows for several methods to be used and, in this way, to extend the functionality of a class.

They allow incorporating inside another class any group of methods, inside some categorization, the Trait.

Similar to an abstract class, but with a great difference: it cannot be instantiated on its own.

In PHP they were introduced to be an instrument for code reuse because PHP is a single inheritance language.

And in PHP they have the following characteristics:

• You can define properties.
• You can define constructors.
• You can define abstract methods.
• It does not support inheritance.
• Traits are not types.
• It is not possible to instantiate on its own.

Is a Good or Bad practice?

There is a lot of controversy about Traits, being considered by many, like a bad practice.

Benjamin Eberlei on his blog considered him as static access. Others, that they are a kind of automated copy-paste code.