Fluent Interfaces

To write code that is easy readable just like sentences in a natural language (like English).


Purpose

To write code that is easy readable just like sentences in a natural language (like English).

Examples
  • A query builder which works something like that example class below.
  • PHPUnit uses fluent interfaces to build mock objects.
UML


Code

Fluent Interface


namespace DesignPatterns\Structural\FluentInterface;

class Sql implements \Stringable
{
    private array $fields = [];
    private array $from = [];
    private array $where = [];

    public function select(array $fields): Sql
    {
        $this->fields = $fields;

        return $this;
    }

    public function from(string $table, string $alias): Sql
    {
        $this->from[] = $table . ' AS ' . $alias;

        return $this;
    }

    public function where(string $condition): Sql
    {
        $this->where[] = $condition;

        return $this;
    }

    public function __toString(): string
    {
        return sprintf(
            'SELECT %s FROM %s WHERE %s',
            join(', ', $this->fields),
            join(', ', $this->from),
            join(' AND ', $this->where)
        );
    }
}