<?php class person { //this is a container for functions and variables that share the same scope function setvars() { $this->name = 'manray'; $this->age = '28'; } function sayhello() { echo 'hello ' . $this->name . ' you are ' . $this->age . ' years old'; } } $person = new person(); //there is now a name variable available inside the object //this brings the scope outside of the class and 'into play' here $person->setvars(); $person->sayhello();