====== PHP RFC: Deprecations for PHP 8.6 ======
  * Date: 2025-10-12
  * Authors:
    * Gina Peter Banyard <girgias@php.net>
  * Status: Draft
  * Implementation: 8.6
    * TBD

===== Introduction =====

The RFC proposes to deprecate the listed functionality in PHP 8.6 and remove it in PHP 9 (except where otherwise noted).

The following list provides a short overview of the functionality targeted for deprecation, while more detailed explanation is provided in the Proposal section:

  * Passing objects for <php>$array</php> parameter of <php>array_walk()</php> and <php>array_walk_recursive()</php>
  * Passing objects for <php>$options</php> parameter of <php>deflate_init()</php> and <php>inflate_init()</php>
  * Passing objects to <php>ArrayObject::exchangeArray()</php>
  * Deprecate <php>strcoll()</php>
  * Deprecate <php>SORT_LOCALE_STRING</php> flag for <php>sort()</php> functions

===== Proposal =====

Each feature proposed for deprecation is voted separately and requires a 2/3 majority.
All votes refer to deprecation in PHP 8.6 and removal in PHP 9 (except where otherwise noted).

==== Example Deprecation ====

  * Author: Name <name@example.com>

Description


==== Passing objects for $array parameter of array_walk() and array_walk_recursive() ====

  * Author: Gina Peter Banyard <girgias@php.net>

TODO: Reason to get rid of 'A' ZPP specifier
Fallback: <php>get_object_vars()</php>

The recursive version doesn't recursive if a value/property is an object.
Due to taking by reference this breaks readonly properties, which is a similar issue that the ArrayObject with backing object deprecation is addressing


==== Passing objects for $options parameter of deflate_init() and inflate_init() ====

  * Author: Gina Peter Banyard <girgias@php.net>

TODO: Reason to get rid of 'H' ZPP specifier
Fallback: <php>get_object_vars()</php>


==== Passing objects to ArrayObject::exchangeArray() ====

  * Author: Gina Peter Banyard <girgias@php.net>

TODO: Follow-up of 8.5 ArrayObject with objects deprecation
https://wiki.php.net/rfc/deprecations_php_8_5#deprecate_arrayobject_and_arrayiterator_with_objects

==== Deprecate strcoll() ====

  * Author: Gina Peter Banyard <girgias@php.net>

TODO:
  * Not binary safe
  * Relies on global state from <php>setlocale()</php>
  * Alternative: <php>Collator::compare()</php>

  * Deprecate <php>strcoll()</php>
  * Deprecate <php>SORT_LOCALE_STRING</php>

==== Deprecate SORT_LOCALE_STRING flag for sort() functions ====

  * Author: Gina Peter Banyard <girgias@php.net>

TODO:
  * Not binary safe, as internally it relies on the same behaviour as <php>strcoll</php>
  * Relies on global state from <php>setlocale()</php>
  * Alternative: <php>Collator::sort()</php>, <php>Collator::asort()</php>, <php>Collator::sort()</php>, <php>Collator::sortWithSortKeys()</php>

===== Backward Incompatible Changes =====

For PHP 8.6 additional deprecation notices will be emitted.
The actual removal of the affected functionality will happen no earlier than PHP 9.

===== Removed from this proposal =====

The following entries were originally added to this proposal and then dropped.