rfc:nullable-casting

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PHP RFC: Nullable Casting

Introduction

PHP supports expression casting by using (int) expression, but it doesn't consider that the expression could be a nullable type, as introduced by PHP 7.1. Due to the lack of support for the nullable casting, is necessary to create some additional codes to keep a nullable output as nullable after a casting, for example.

Proposal

The proposal is to add support to nullable casting to current casting feature. Basically, (int) is the default int casting, and (?int) will be a nullable int casting. Generally speaking, what changes is the possibility of using a ? before the type of casting, turning it into a nullable cast.

The difference between casting and nullable casting is that it the expression is null, it should be keeped as null, instead to be forced to the destination cast.

Input (cast) - default (?cast) - nullable Same result?
int (123) int (123) int (123) Yes
null int (0) null No
bool (true) bool (true) bool (true) Yes
bool (false) bool (false) bool (false) Yes
null bool (false) null No
float (1.23) float (1.23) float (1.23) Yes
null float (0.0) null No
string (“test”) string (“test”) string (“test”) Yes
null string (“”) null No
array ([1, 2, 3]) array ([1, 2, 3]) array ([1, 2, 3]) Yes
null array ([]) null No
object ({ a => 1 }) object ({ a => 1 }) object ({ a => 1 }) Yes
null object ({}) null No

Note: the (unset) will not be affected, returning null in any case.

Example

Backward Incompatible Changes

None.

Proposed PHP Version(s)

PHP 7.NEXT, possibly 7.4.

RFC Impact

To SAPIs

I need help here.

To Existing Extensions

I need help here, but I do not think so.

To Opcache

I need help here.

Proposed Voting Choices

Voting process should requires 2/3+1 when available.

Patches and Tests

I need help here.

rfc/nullable-casting.1533760805.txt.gz · Last modified: 2018/08/08 20:40 by david.proweb