>> Apart from making the constructor >> private, is there any way I can ensure that there is ever only one >> instance of an object? > you could use the magic method __clone. > For example: > public function __clone() { trigger_error('The singleton pattern avoids > cloning this instance', E_USER_ERROR); } Adding the above to my sample class (from my OP) did nothing. Should it have? thnx, Christoph -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php