PHP8 Variable Types
Class/interface name |
An instance of the class or interface |
self |
The same class the type is used in |
parent |
The parent of the class the type is used in |
callable |
Something callable |
bool |
A boolean |
int |
An integer |
float |
A float |
string |
A string |
array |
An array |
iterable |
Array or traversable |
object |
An object |
mixed |
Any value |
Return Types |
void |
Function will not return anything |
static |
Function may return static
|
New mixed type
Mixed means any one of: |
| |
array |
bool |
callable |
| |
string |
int |
resource |
| |
float |
null |
object |
Note that because mixed
already contains null
, it is not nullable itself.
Return static
class Foo
{
public function test(): static
{
return new static();
}
}
|
Static is now a valid return type.
The nullsafe operator (copy)
$foo = $bar->getBaz()?->asFormatted();
|
Quickly check for nulls in method returns.
Union types
public function foo(Foo|Bar $input): int|float;
|
You can now specify more than one type in a type hint:
• The void
type cannot be part of a union.
• Unions can be nullable by including null
as a type or preceding with a question mark.
Named arguments
function foo(string $a, int $b, ?string $c = null)
{
...
}
foo(
c: 'value c',
a: 'value a'
);
|
Pass values to functions and methods by name, regardless of the order in which they are defined.
|
|
Attributes
use App\Attributes\ExampleAttribute;
#[ExampleAttribute]
class Foo
{
#[ExampleAttribute]
public const FOO = 'foo';
#[ExampleAttribute]
public $x;
#[ExampleAttribute]
public function foo(#[ExampleAttribute] $bar) { }
}
|
Match expression
$result = match($input) {
0 => "hello",
'1', '2', '3' => "world",
};
|
Switch statements made simple. Note, the comparisons made by match
use strict types.
Constructor property promotion
class Money
{
public function __construct(
public Currency $currency,
public int $amount,
) {}
}
|
In the above example Currency
and int
are both automatically made public properties of the class and assigned values on construction.
Weak maps
class Foo
{
private WeakMap $cache;
public function getSomethingWithCaching(object $obj): object
{
return $this->cache[$obj]
??= $this->computeSomethingExpensive($obj);
}
}
|
A weak map allows for storage of key-value pairs, but the PHP garbage collection will drop a weak map element where the only reference to it is the weak map itself.
Throw expression
$triggerError = fn () => throw new MyError();
$foo = $bar['offset'] ?? throw new CustomEx('offset');
|
Throw is now an expression instead of a statement, making it more flexible.
Non-capturing catches
try {
// Something goes wrong
} catch (MySpecialException) {
Log::error("Something went wrong");
}
|
When you catch exceptions and throwables, you no longer need a variable.
|
|
::class on objects
$foo = new Foo();
var_dump($foo::class);
|
Works the same as get_class()
.
Trailing comma in parameter lists
public function(
string $parameterA,
int $parameterB,
Foo $objectfoo,
) {
// …
}
|
You can now end a parameter list with a comma without an error.
Create DateTime objects from interfaces
DateTime::createFromInterface(DateTimeInterface $other);
DateTimeImmutable::createFromInterface(DateTimeInterface $other);
|
New Stringable interface
class Foo
{
public function __toString(): string
{
return 'foo';
}
}
function bar(string|Stringable $stringable) { / … / }
bar(new Foo());
bar('abc');
|
New functions
str_contains('haystack', 'needle')
|
Does haystack contain needle? |
str_starts_with('haystack', 'needle')
|
Does haystack start with needle? |
str_ends_with('haystack', 'needle')
|
Does haystack end with needle? |
|
Handles division by zero without an error. |
|
Like gettype()
but with more detail |
|
Fetch the numeric ID of a resource |
Breaking Changes
Internal errors and engine warnings have been made consistent and/or reclassified. |
The @
operator no longer silences fatal errors. |
The default error reporting level is now E_ALL
. |
The default PDO error mode is no longer silent. |
Concatenation precedence has changed - addition now precedes concatenation. |
Namespaces can now include reserved names. |
ReflectionFunction::isDisabled()
, ReflectionParameter::getClass()
and ReflectionParameter::isCallable()
have been deprecated. |
There are more breaking and engine changes, this list is limited to those you are most likely to encounter. For a full run-down, check out Brent's article linked below.
|
Created By
https://aloneonahill.com
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