class_parents

Return the parent classes of the given class

&reftitle.description; ``array``false```class_parents` ``object``string```object_or_class` `bool` `autoload`&true;

This function returns an array with the name of the parent classes of the given `object_or_class`.

&reftitle.parameters;

`object_or_class`

- An object (class instance) or a string (class name).

`autoload`

- Whether to autoload if not already loaded.

&reftitle.returnvalues;

An array on success, or &false; when the given class doesn't exist.

&reftitle.examples;

### `class_parents` example

    <?php

    class foo { }
    class bar extends foo {}

    print_r(class_parents(new bar));

    // you may also specify the parameter as a string
    print_r(class_parents('bar'));

    spl_autoload_register();

    // use autoloading to load the 'not_loaded' class
    print_r(class_parents('not_loaded', true));

    ?>

&example.outputs.similar;

    Array
    (
        [foo] => foo
    )
    Array
    (
        [foo] => foo
    )
    Array
    (
        [parent_of_not_loaded] => parent_of_not_loaded
    )

&reftitle.notes;

To check that an object extends a class, &instanceof; or the `is_a` function should be used instead.

&reftitle.seealso;

- `class_implements`
- `is_a`
- &instanceof;