PHP: rfc:case_insensitive_ini_get_all

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====== PHP RFC: Case-insensitive extension names in ini_get_all() ======
  * Version: 1.0
  * Date: 2026-10-17
  * Author: Weilin Du, weilindu@php.net
  * Status: Under Discussion
  * Implementation: TBD
  * Discussion thread: [[https://externals.io/message/132226|Initial discussion]] [[https://news-web.php.net/php.internals/132875|Official RFC thread]]

===== Introduction =====

PHP's extension-query functions handle extension names inconsistently. ''extension_loaded()'', ''get_extension_funcs()'', and ''phpversion()'' already accept case-insensitive names, while ''ini_get_all()'' requires lowercase names:

<PHP>
<?php
extension_loaded('Pcre');    // true
get_extension_funcs('Pcre'); // array of function names
phpversion('Pcre');         // extension version string
ini_get_all('Pcre');        // E_WARNING, then false
?>
</PHP>

This RFC proposes making ''ini_get_all()'' case-insensitive so the same extension name can be used consistently across all four functions, without callers needing to normalize it for one particular API.

===== Proposal =====

Resolve the ''$extension'' argument using ASCII case-insensitive matching, independently of the current locale. This applies to both values of ''$details'' (the second parameter).

<PHP>
<?php
// PHP 8.7:
var_dump(ini_get_all('pcre') === ini_get_all('Pcre')); // bool(true)
var_dump(ini_get_all('pcre', false) === ini_get_all('PCRE', false)); // bool(true)
?>
</PHP>

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

Names differing only in capitalization from a loaded extension now succeed instead of raising a warning and returning ''false''. Code relying on that failure will observe different behavior.

Existing successful calls are unaffected.

===== Proposed PHP Version(s) =====

PHP 8.7

===== RFC Impact =====

The ini_get_all function will be more consistent with the rest of the functions in the php core concerning extension's name when it comes to case-sensitiveness.

===== Voting Choices =====

A two-thirds majority is required. Voting has not started; the closing timestamp will be added when scheduled.

<doodle title="Implement case-insensitive extension names in ini_get_all() as outlined in the RFC?" voteType="single" closed="true">
   * Yes
   * No
   * Abstain
</doodle>

===== Patches and Tests =====

TBD.

===== References =====

  * [[https://externals.io/message/132226|Initial internals discussion]]
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