• Date: 2023-05-07
• Author: Robert Landers, landers.robert@gmail.com
• Status: Draft
• First Published at: http://wiki.php.net/rfc/nameof

Currently, in PHP, it is possible to get the name of nearly anything. You can retrieve the name of a class with get_class or ::class, you can extract the name of a function from (...), but there is one thing you cannot get the name of, and that is the name of a variable or static member during run time.

This RFC proposes introducing a new global function called nameof that returns the names of variables and static members. This string can assist in error messages, array keys for static/enums, or reflection. The name is extracted during compile time, and works anywhere a static string would work.

This function returns the 'name of' a variable, property, function, or static member.

nameof($variable) === 'variable';

nameof($object->property) === 'property';

nameof(Enum::Case) === 'Case';

nameof(Object::Member) === 'Member';

nameof(func(...)) === 'func';

nameof(some\func(...)) === 'some\func';

What breaks, and what is the justification for it?

• 8.3: release
• 8.2.x: nameof becomes a reserved word, emitting a notice

Should be none

Will existing extensions be affected? No

The function call is compiled to a string.

None

None thus far

PHP will largely be unaffected by this change, except that a new global function is introduced.

None.

Include these so readers know where you are heading and can discuss the proposed voting options.

https://github.com/php/php-src/pull/11172/files

After the project is implemented, this section should contain

1. the version(s) it was merged into
2. a link to the git commit(s)
3. a link to the PHP manual entry for the feature
4. a link to the language specification section (if any)

Links to external references, discussions or RFCs

Keep this updated with features that were discussed on the mail lists.