class_implements
iterator_count
SPL Functions
PHP Manual

# class_parents

(PHP 5)

class_parents — Return the parent classes of the given class

### Description

array class_parents ( mixed `$class` [, bool `$autoload` ] )

This function returns an array with the name of the parent classes of the given `class` .

### Parameters

`class`

  An object (class instance) or a string (class name).

`autoload`

  Whether to allow this function to load the class automatically through the __autoload magic method. Defaults to `TRUE`.

### Return Values

An array on success, or `FALSE` on error.

### ChangeLog

Version | Description
--- | ---
5.1.0 | Added the option to pass the `class` parameter as a string. Added the `autoload` parameter.

### Examples

Example#1 class_parents() example

`<?php
class foo { }
class bar extends foo {}
print_r(class_parents(new bar));
// since PHP 5.1.0 you may also specify the parameter as a string
print_r(class_parents('bar'));
function __autoload($class_name) {
require_once $class_name . '.php';
}
// use __autoload to load the 'not_loaded' class
print_r(class_parents('not_loaded', true));
?>`

The above example will output something similar to:

    Array
    (
        [foo] => foo
    )

    Array
    (
        [parent_of_not_loaded] => parent_of_not_loaded
    )

### See Also

- class_implements()

class_implements
iterator_count
SPL Functions
PHP Manual