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<class_implementsclass_uses>
^SPL FunctionsLast updated: Mon, 26 Oct 2026

class_parents

(PHP 5, PHP 7, PHP 8)

class_parents — Return the parent classes of the given class

Description

function class_parents(object|string $object_or_class, bool $autoload = true): array|false

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

Parameters

object_or_class

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

autoload

Whether to autoload if not already loaded.

Return Values

An array on success, or false when the given class doesn't exist.

Examples

Example #1 class_parents() example

<?php

class foo { }
class bar extends foo {}

print_r(class_parents(new bar));

// you may also specify the parameter as a string
print_r(class_parents('bar'));

spl_autoload_register();

// use autoloading 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
(
    [foo] => foo
)
Array
(
    [parent_of_not_loaded] => parent_of_not_loaded
)

Notes

Note:

To check that an object extends a class, instanceof or the is_a() function should be used instead.

See Also

  • class_implements() - Return the interfaces which are implemented by the given class or interface
  • is_a() - Checks whether the object is of a given type or subtype
  • instanceof


<class_implementsclass_uses>
^SPL FunctionsLast updated: Mon, 26 Oct 2026