# get_parent_class

(PHP 4, PHP 5)

get_parent_class — Retrieves the parent class name for object or class

### Description

string get_parent_class ([ mixed `$object` ] )

Retrieves the parent class name for object or class.

### Parameters

`object`

  The tested object or class name

### Return Values

Returns the name of the parent class of the class of which `object` is an instance or the name.

If called without parameter outside object, this function returns `FALSE`.

### ChangeLog

Version | Description
--- | ---
Before 5.1.0 | If called without parameter outside object, this function would have returned `NULL` with a warning.
Since 5.0.0 | The `object` parameter is optional if called from the object's method.
Since 4.0.5 | If `object` is a string, returns the name of the parent class of the class with that name.

### Examples

Example#1 Using get_parent_class()

`<?php
class dad {
function dad()
{
// implements some logic
}
}
class child extends dad {
function child()
{
echo "I'm " , get_parent_class($this) , "'s son\n";
}
}
class child2 extends dad {
function child2()
{
echo "I'm " , get_parent_class('child2') , "'s son too\n";
}
}
$foo = new child();
$bar = new child2();
?>`

The above example will output:

    I'm dad's son
    I'm dad's son too

### See Also

- get_class()
- is_subclass_of()