PHPJuly 3, 2026

Prefer asymmetric visibility over readonly when a class mutates its own state

app/Models/Order.php

php

class Order
{
    public private(set) string $status = 'pending';

    public function markPaid(): void
    {
        $this->status = 'paid'; // allowed: internal write
    }
}

$order->status;          // readable everywhere
$order->status = 'x';    // Error: cannot write from outside

`public private(set)` (PHP 8.4) makes a property readable from anywhere but writable only inside the class. `readonly` forbids all writes after initialization, which is too strict when the object legitimately transitions state internally — you'd otherwise clone or expose a setter. Asymmetric visibility keeps the field encapsulated for writes while staying transparent for reads. Also supports `protected(set)` for subclass writes.

php8.4oopencapsulationimmutability

source:www.php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.visibility.php