Scope Resolution Operator ::
The Scope Resolution Operator :: is a token that allows access to static, constant, and overridden properties or methods of a class.
Traditionally, this used to be a feature of the function get_class(). The operator is more modern and faster.
The double colon operator is used to access class related elements, such as
- Static properties,
X::$property - Static methods,
X::method() - Static constants,
X::CONSTANT - Class name,
X::class
This operator is often called double-colon, or paamayim-nekudotayim: this means double-colon in Hebrew. It is said to be a lot easier to google than ::.
PHP also has a single colon operator :, used for goto labels, ternary operator, etc.
<?php
$a = new stdClass();
echo $a::class;
// identical to
echo get_class($a);
?>