Get private variable of object in PHP 5.3+

private.php

<?php

/**
 * Get a private variable from any object.
 *
 * @param mixed $obj
 * @param string $name
 * @return mixed
 */
function get_private_var($obj, $name) {
  $reflected = new ReflectionClass(get_class($obj));
  $property = $reflected->getProperty($name);
  $property->setAccessible(true);
  $value = $property->getValue($obj);
  $property->setAccessible(false);
  return $value;
}

sample.php

<?php

class User {
  public $username;
  private $password;

  public function __construct($username, $password) {
    $this->username = $username;
    $this->password = $password;
  }
}

$me = new User('dummy', 'secret');

// This will fail, Fatal error
$password = $me->password;

// But this will work
$password = get_private_var($me, 'password');