title: Why is it not possible to return self in PHP?
body: <p>In PHP it's not possible to <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/125268/chaining-static-methods-in-php">return self</a> to chain static methods. This limits the usage of static methods, because chaining is pretty useful and you have to use instances to chain methods.</p>
  
  <p>Are there any reasons why the PHP developers decided not to allow returning <code>self</code>? Or is it not possible to return <code>self</code> in OOP in general?</p>