PHP Hierarchy Lens
See how your PHP classes relate — at a glance. PhpStorm-style CodeLens and gutter
indicators for interface implementations, class inheritance, method overrides, and trait
usage. No language server required, no paywall.
Why
Jumping between an interface and its implementations, or a method and the ones that
override it, usually means a "Find all references" detour. PHP Hierarchy Lens surfaces
those relationships right where you're reading the code — a clickable count above each
declaration and a colored arrow in the gutter — so navigating a class hierarchy is one
click, not a search.
It builds its own lightweight index of your workspace by parsing PHP directly, so it works
on its own — it doesn't depend on a paid language server, and it won't expire.
How to install
In the editor's Extensions panel, search for PHP Hierarchy Lens (publisher
igaster) and click Install. Then open any .php file — the indicators appear
automatically.
Features
- ↓ Implementations — on interfaces and interface/abstract methods: who implements this.
- ↓ Inheritors — on classes: which subclasses extend this.
- ↓ Overrides — on methods: which subclasses override this one.
- ↑ Parent link — on a method/class: jump to the interface it implements or the parent
it overrides / extends.
- ↓ Trait usages — on traits: which classes
use this trait.
- Namespaces & traits fully resolved (via
use aliases and FQNs).
- Two ways to see it: clickable CodeLens text above the line, and gutter icons
(up = orange, down = blue). Hover a declaration line for a popup that lists every related
declaration as a jump link.
Icon styles
Pick the gutter glyph set that fits your theme with phpRelations.gutterIcons.style:
Settings
Find these under Settings → Extensions → PHP Hierarchy Lens.
| Setting |
Default |
What it does |
phpRelations.enable |
true |
Master switch |
phpRelations.codeLens.enable |
true |
Show CodeLens text |
phpRelations.gutterIcons.enable |
true |
Show gutter icons |
phpRelations.gutterIcons.style |
triangles |
arrows · triangles · chevrons · circles |
phpRelations.gutterIcons.opacity |
50 |
Icon opacity, 10–100 (%) |
phpRelations.gutterIcons.hover |
true |
Show the hover popup |
phpRelations.gutterIcons.hoverLimit |
15 |
Max items in the popup |
phpRelations.indicators.implementations |
true |
Toggle the implementations indicator |
phpRelations.indicators.inheritors |
true |
Toggle the inheritors indicator |
phpRelations.indicators.overrides |
true |
Toggle the overrides indicator |
phpRelations.indicators.parent |
true |
Toggle the upward implements/overrides link |
phpRelations.indicators.traitUsages |
true |
Toggle the trait-usage indicator |
phpRelations.exclude |
["**/vendor/**"] |
Globs excluded from indexing |
Using it
- CodeLens (text above the line) is clickable — it opens a peek with the targets.
- Gutter icons are visual markers. VS Code doesn't expose click/hover events for gutter
icons themselves, so hover the declaration line next to the icon: a popup lists each
related declaration as a jump link, with the count header to peek them all.
Requirements
VS Code ^1.90.0. Works in VS Code and Cursor (and other VS Code–compatible editors).
Known limitations
- Relationships into excluded folders (e.g.
vendor) aren't shown unless you index them.
- Members declared only via PHPDoc (
@method, @mixin) aren't resolved — only real
declarations in your workspace.
License
MIT © Giannis Gasteratos
Not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by JetBrains. "PhpStorm" is a trademark of
JetBrains s.r.o., used here only to describe comparable functionality.
