a description of how PHP uses the -> operator

arrowExplained.php

<?php

/* Here is some arbitrary code. Note that this is outside the Class definition */

$var = 'Some value';

function doStuff($param) {
    echo 'Doing stuff with ' . $param . '!';
}

/* Now, even though it's frowned upon, I'm going to include a class definition in the middle of my file */

class Thing {
    private $property;
    public $differentProperty;
    
    public function __construct($differentParam) {
        /* This code fires automatically when a new Thing is created */
        $this->property = $differentParam;
        /* Inside the Class definiton, so use $this. Note that $property becomees $this->property (only 1 $) */
    }
}

$thingamajig = new Thing($var);
/* Thing's $property is now 'Some value' */

$thingamajig->differentPropery = 'Some other value';
/* Thing's $differentProperty is now 'Some other value' */

?>