In PHP5, what is the difference between using self and $this? When is each appropriate?

Use $this to refer to the current object.
Use self to refer to the current class.
In other words,
use $this->member for non-static members,
use self::$member for static members.

Use self to reference static class properties

<?php

class visitors
{
private static $visitors = 0;

function __construct()
{
self::$visitors++;
}

static function getVisitors()
{
return self::$visitors;
}

}

$visits = new visitors();
echo visitors::getVisitors()."
“;

$visits2 = new visitors();
echo visitors::getVisitors().”
“;

?>

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