Req #50806 [Asn->Wfx]: $this can be assigned using variable casting

Edit report at http://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=50806&edit=1 ID: 50806 Updated by: dmitry@php.net Reported by: kominbhai at gmail dot com Summary: $this can be assigned using variable casting -Status: Assigned +Status: Wont fix Type: Feature/Change Request -Package: Feature/Change Request +Package: *General Issues Operating System: Windows Vista PHP Version: 5.*, 6, 7, 8, 9.. Assigned To: dmitry New Comment: It's possible to do it even without dynamic tricks. <?php class Foo { function bar() { $x = &$this; $x = null; var_dump($this); } } $x = new Foo(); $x->bar(); ?> I would say I don't like to fix all these issues, because the fixes would slowdown absolutely legal PHP code. Previous Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2010-01-24 04:56:45] kalle@php.net There are several other ways to also re-assign $this, e.g.: class Test { public function __construct() { var_dump($this); /* Quirk comes in here by using the concation operator */ /* ${'this'} is not possible and results in an E_ERROR */ ${'t' . 'his'} = 'Hello'; var_dump($this); } } If any whether this should be fixed within the Engine, then Dmitry would know so I'm re-assigning it to him for him to decide. As for a documentation issue, I really don't belive we should document such quirks in the official documentation else people will rely on such buggy "features". ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2010-01-20 15:48:54] kominbhai at gmail dot com Description: ------------ $this can be assigned using variable casting Reproduce code: --------------- <?php $a="this"; $$a="abc"; echo $this; //works when it should not be ?> Expected result: ---------------- Error: $this cannot be re-assigned Actual result: -------------- echoes abc ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Edit this bug report at http://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=50806&edit=1