rfc:pow-operator

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PHP RFC: Power Operator

Introduction

This proposal is three-fold:

  1. Turn the existing pow() function into a language construct.
  2. Introduce an exponential (right associative) operator **.
    • Easier to read and shorter to write.
    • Can be found in other languages.
  3. Introduce an exponential assignment operator **=

Proposal

pow() as language construct

No changes to existing code, safe for one:

var_dump(pow([], 2)); // int(0) instead of float(0)

Power operator

A short working example:

echo 2 ** 3; // 8

It supports GMP overloading:

$base = gmp_init(2);
$exponent = 3;
var_dump($base ** $exponent);
 
// output
object(GMP)#3 (1) {
  ["num"]=>
  string(1) "8"
}

Example of exponent assignment:

$x = 2;
$x **= 3;
echo $x; // 8

Important

The proposed associativity is right, just like how power towers work.

The operator precedence is:

  • higher than the bitwise not (~) and unary minus,
  • lower than array dereferencing.

Examples:

echo 2 ** 3 ** 2; // 512 (not 64)
echo -3 ** 2; // -9 (not 9)
echo 1 - 3 ** 2; // -8
echo ~3 ** 2; // -10 (not 16)

Discussion

Should -2 ** 3 evaluate to 9 instead of -9?

According to the following resources, the scale tips more towards having the exponent precede the unary minus:

Should 2 ** 3 ** 2 yield 64 (left associative), 512 (right associative) or throw an error (non associative)?

The exponent operator evaluation order should be based on Tetration and therefore be right associative.

Languages with left associative exponential operator

  • VB (not by choice imho)
  • Basic
  • Octave
  • Matlab
  • D
  • ColdFusion

Languages with right associative exponential operator

  • Haskell
  • R
  • F#
  • Ruby
  • Perl
  • Python
  • Mathematica
  • Freemat
  • Scilab
  • Tcl (changed from left associative!)
  • Cobol
  • Fortran
  • Sage
  • Bash

Languages with non associative exponential operator

  • Ada

Sources

Proposed PHP Version(s)

PHP 5.6

Impact to Existing Extensions

The opcode ZEND_POW <165> and ZEND_ASSIGN_POW <166> is added.

External extensions such as vld or phpdbg would have to be updated, but I'm not aware of any core extensions that would otherwise be affected.

Open Issues

None.

Proposed Voting Choices

Voting will be based on the following:

  • Turn pow() into a language construct,
  • Add the power operators ** and **=,
  • Add ZEND_POW and ZEND_ASSIGN_POW opcodes.

Should PHP get a power operator in PHP 5.6?
Real name Yes No
aharvey (aharvey)  
ajf (ajf)  
bwoebi (bwoebi)  
datibbaw (datibbaw)  
googleguy (googleguy)  
kalle (kalle)  
kriscraig (kriscraig)  
levim (levim)  
lstrojny (lstrojny)  
mike (mike)  
nikic (nikic)  
pajoye (pajoye)  
philstu (philstu)  
seld (seld)  
stas (stas)  
Count: 7 8

Voting ends on 31st of December.


Patches and Tests

rfc/pow-operator.1387422705.txt.gz · Last modified: 2017/09/22 13:28 (external edit)