PHP: rfc:remove_utf_8_decode_encode

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====== PHP RFC: Deprecate utf8_decode() and utf8_encode() ======
  * Version: 0.9
  * Date: 2016-08-15
  * Author: Yasuo Ohgaki <yohgaki@ohgaki.net>
  * Status: Abandoned; succeeded by [[rfc:remove_utf8_decode_and_utf8_encode]]
  * First Published at: http://wiki.php.net/rfc/remove_utf_8_decode_encode

===== Introduction =====

Purpose of this RFC is described in bug [[https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=60429|#60429]]

The purpose of the functions utf8_encode and utf8_decode are time and again 
misunderstood and have probably caused more encoding related problems than they 
have solved. The biggest reason for this is their naming. Their purpose is to 
*convert* the encoding of a string from ISO-8859-1 to UTF-8, yet they are named 
in a way that suggests some other magical function that is necessary to work 
with UTF-8 text. Users looking for "UTF-8 support" in their app quickly find 
these functions due to their naming and use them without understanding what they 
do, often only testing with ASCII text which appears to work fine of first 
sight.

Why is ISO-8859-1 presumed to be the default encoding when converting to UTF-8, 
hence why do these functions occupy such a prominent spot in the namespace? 
There's simply no good reason for it.

The same functionality is available through iconv and mb_convert_encoding. 
Therefore I suggest to slowly deprecate utf8_encode and utf8_decode to clear up 
a recurring confusion and consolidate features into the existing, much more 
versatile iconv and mb_ functions.



===== Proposal =====

  * Document utf8_decode() and utf8_encode() deprecation now.

''
Use of utf_*() is deprecated in favor of generic encoding conversion functions. 
Use mbstring, iconv or intl module feature to convert character encoding.''


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

Programs use utf8_decode() and utf8_encode() for ISO-8859-1 to/from UTF-8 conversion should use other encoding conversion function available. e.g. mb_convert_encoding()

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

  * None

===== RFC Impact =====
==== To SAPIs ====
None

==== To Existing Extensions ====
XNL module

==== To Opcache ====
None

==== New Constants ====
None

==== php.ini Defaults ====
No change.

===== Open Issues =====
None

===== Unaffected PHP Functionality =====
Other XML module features except  utf8_decode() and utf8_encode() are unaffected.

===== Future Scope =====

 * Remove or alias functions in the future.

===== Proposed Voting Choices =====
State whether this project requires a 2/3 

<doodle title="Remove utf8_decode() and utf8_encode() function" auth="Yasuo Ohgaki" voteType="single" closed="true">
   * Yes
   * No
</doodle>

Vote starts: 2016/09/10

Vote ends: 2016/09/20 23:59:59 UTC


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

 * N/A

===== Implementation =====

  - the version(s) it was merged to
  - a link to the git commit(s)
  - a link to the PHP manual entry for the feature

===== References =====

  * https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=60429

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