Class “%s” not found

Description

This error message is reported when the class could not be loaded, or when the name of the class is invalid.

It appears when the classes are defined after they are required. It applies to classes in the same file, and never with autoloading.

It also appears when unserializing an enumeration: PHP cannot distinguish a class constant or an enumeration case, so it reports a class error. Yet, this is the enuneration missing.

Example

<?php

// No x definition in the code
new X;

// it is not possible to have a class, with the name '4f'
('4f')::c;

// it is not possible to have a class, with the name 'class'
('class')::c;

// it is not possible to have static, self or parent in a string to call a method
static::foo();

// unserializing an enumeration, but no such enumration.
print_r(unserialize("a:1:{i:0;E:3:"f:A";}"));


// B is defined after being required by A, so this is a fatal error.
class A extends B {}
class B extends C {}
class C {}
?>

Literal Examples

  • Class “x” not found

  • Class “4f” not found

  • Class “class” not found

Solutions

  • Check spelling and namespace for that class.

  • Create the required class.

  • Check if the class is defined in an extension, and the extension is included in the current PHP engine.

  • Check if the class is defined in a dependency, and the dependency is included in the current composer.json.

  • Avoid using getInstance() on that attribute.

  • Do not use static, parent or self in a string to call a method statically.

  • Check that the enumeration is loaded.

  • Put classes in different files, and use autoload.