Use this keyword
<?php class Staff { var $name; var $city; protected $wage; function __get($propName) { echo "__get called!<br />"; $vars = array("name","city"); if (in_array($propName, $vars)) { return $this->$propName; } else { return "No such variable!"; } } } $employee = new Staff(); $employee->name = "Joe"; echo $employee->name."<br/>"; echo $employee->age; ?>