title: what is the "::" notation in php used for?
body: <p>I am looking through some php code and I see this &quot;::&quot; notation that i have no idea what it means...also what the &amp; in the front of the call</p>
  <pre><code>$mainframe =&amp; JFactory::getApplication('site');
  $sql=&quot;SELECT rt.member_id ,rt.commission,rt.sales,kt.store_id,kt.user_id FROM jos_report
  rt JOIN jos_kingdom_tickets kt WHERE rt.member_id=kt.ticket_id&quot;;
  $db =&amp; JFactory::getDBO();
  </code></pre>
  <p>thanks in advance</p>