PHP RFC: Short Array Variable Shorthand

• Version: 1.0
• Date: 2026-09-30
• Author: Weilin Du, weilindu@php.net
• Status: Under Discussion
• Implementation: TBD
• Discussion thread: TBD
• Voting thread: TBD

Associative arrays often repeat a key and a variable with the same name. This RFC proposes :$name as shorthand for “name” => $name inside short [] syntax:

<?php
$x = 10;
$y = 20;
 
$point = [:$x, :$y]; // $point = ['x' => $x, 'y' => $y]
[:$x, :$y] = $point; // ['x' => $x, 'y' => $y] = $point
?>

Within [], :$name uses the variable's lexical name as a string key. In an array expression it reads $name; in destructuring it assigns the value at key “name” to $name. Both forms behave exactly like the explicit keyed element, including existing rules for duplicate or missing keys.

The shorthand also works in nested [] and in [] destructuring used by foreach. It accepts only a simple variable. Other values still use an explicit key, for example [“name” => $object->name].

Important: This RFC supports only []. The forms array(:$name) and list(:$name) remain invalid. It does not change function calls.

An array can mix the shorthand with explicit keys:

<?php
$name = 'Weilin';
$age = 18;
$user = ['id' => 1, :$name, :$age];
// ['id' => 1, 'name' => 'Weilin', 'age' => 18]
?>

The shorthand can also be mixed with explicit keys when destructuring:

<?php
$user = ['name' => 'Weilin', 'age' => 18];
[:$name, 'age' => $years] = $user;
// $name === 'Weilin'; $years === 18
?>

Here is an example in a foreach loop:

<?php
$rows = [['name' => 'Weilin']];
foreach ($rows as [:$name]) {
    echo $name; // Weilin
}
?>

Nested short-array destructuring works in the same way:

<?php
$record = ['user' => ['name' => 'Weilin']];
['user' => [:$name]] = $record;
echo $name; // Weilin
?>

None. The proposed syntax is currently invalid.

PHP 8.7.

Static analyzers must recognize the new [] element form.

None.

None.

None.

The long array() and list() forms, and shorthand in function calls, are outside this RFC.

TBD. Not in the voting process.

TBD.

TBD.

• Named Arguments RFC: Future Scope
• PHP manual: array destructuring

None.

• 2026-09-30: Initial draft.
• 2026-09-30: Added examples and changed status to Under Discussion.