outOfClass.parent

Code example

<?php declare(strict_types = 1);

echo parent::FOO; // ERROR: Using parent outside of class scope.

Why is it reported?

The keyword parent refers to the parent class of the class in which it is used. It can only appear inside a class definition that extends another class. Using parent outside of a class scope (for example, in a function or in the global scope) is a PHP error because there is no class context to resolve the parent from.

This error is reported in various contexts: accessing constants (parent::FOO), calling static methods (parent::method()), accessing static properties (parent::$prop), using new parent(), or using parent in an instanceof check.

How to fix it

Use the fully qualified class name instead of parent when outside a class:

 <?php declare(strict_types = 1);

-echo parent::FOO;
+echo BaseClass::FOO;

Or move the code inside a class method where parent is valid:

<?php declare(strict_types = 1);

class BaseClass
{
	public const FOO = 'bar';
}

class ChildClass extends BaseClass
{
	public function doFoo(): void
	{
		echo parent::FOO; // This works inside a class that extends another
	}
}