Bug #65535 [Opn]: Non existent properties should be regular SimpleXMLElement objects

Edit report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=65535&edit=1 ID: 65535 User updated by: php at maisqi dot com Reported by: php at maisqi dot com Summary: Non existent properties should be regular SimpleXMLElement objects Status: Open Type: Bug Package: SimpleXML related Operating System: Probably all PHP Version: 5.4.19 Block user comment: N Private report: N New Comment: A simpler test script: <?php $sx = new \SimpleXMLElement ('<x></x>'); $node = $sx->node; echo '1: $node = $sx->node => ', get_class ($node), "<br />\n"; $node = $node->node; echo '2: $node = $node->node => ', gettype ($node), "<br />\n"; Previous Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2013-08-23 15:10:50] php at maisqi dot com Description: ------------ When we invoke a non existent sub-node, SimpleXMLElement returns a SimpleXMLElement object. But when we try to get a non existent sub-node on that object, it returns NULL. IMO this renderes it inconsistent. Test script: --------------- <?php class XXX { public function test () { $sx = new \SimpleXMLElement ('<x></x>'); $node = $sx->node; echo '1: $node = $sx->node => ', $node === $this ? 'this' : gettype ($node) . ':' . get_class ($node), ' node->count: ', $node->count (), "<br />\n"; $node = $sx->node->node; echo '2: $node = $node->node => ', $node === $this ? 'this' : gettype ($node), "<br />\n"; } } $x = new XXX; $x->test (); Expected result: ---------------- Or both ($sx and $node) SimpleXMLElement objects should return NULL for a non existent sub-node or both sould return a SimpleXMLElement object. As it is, it's a surprise lurking. I think the second option is best. It makes things like this possible: if ($products = $sx->Catalog->Products->Product) { // Never gets here if there's no <Catalog>, or if it has no sub-nodes // named <Products>, or if it has no sub-nodes named Product. } else die ('No products'); Actual result: -------------- $node it's a SimpleXMLElement, then it is NULL. 1: $node = $sx->node => object:SimpleXMLElement node->count: 0<br /> 2: $node = $node->node => NULL<br /> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Edit this bug report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=65535&edit=1