php - unable to call a method in a class from conditional statement -

the issue odd reason code call method not calling method, method locked(). here class:

class login  {     public $username;     public $password;     public $fails;     public $ip;     public $sqlobject;       public function sqlverify() {       $user=$this->username;       $pass=$this->password;       $sqlobject=$this->sqlobject;       $fails=$this->fails;        if($fails >= 4) { $this->locked(); }        $query=mysqli_query($sqlobject,         "select 1 tbl_users          username='$user' , password='$pass'");        if(mysqli_num_rows($query) > 0){            return "1";        }else{            return "0";        }     }      private function locked() {         return "for security, account has been locked. contact support.";     }  } 

the value of fails = 9 @ time, still no call.. ?

please try below code:

public function sqlverify() {   $user=$this->username;   $pass=$this->password;   $sqlobject=$this->sqlobject;   $fails=$this->fails;    if($fails >= 4) { return $this->locked(); } // need put return statement here returning function.    $query=mysqli_query($sqlobject,     "select 1 tbl_users      username='$user' , password='$pass'");    if(mysqli_num_rows($query) > 0){        return "1";    }else{        return "0";    } }  private function locked() {     return "for security, account has been locked. contact support."; }