Req #65718 [Opn->Wfx]: __inClone() magic method to alter an object's inclusion in clones

Edit report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=65718&edit=1 ID: 65718 Updated by: requinix@php.net Reported by: metamarkers at gmail dot com Summary: __inClone() magic method to alter an object's inclusion in clones -Status: Open +Status: Wont fix Type: Feature/Change Request Package: Class/Object related PHP Version: Irrelevant Block user comment: N Private report: N New Comment: That decision should be up to Foo, not up to Bar. If Foo is unaware that it no longer has a $bar member then that could introduce all sorts of unexpected and difficult to trace bugs. Besides, PHP does not do deep copies during cloning anyways. Implement Foo::__clone() such that it would normally clone all its members. Then you can (a) Make it not clone its $bar and instead unset() it (b) Implement a private Bar::__clone() so attempting to clone $bar raises a fatal "Call to private Bar::__clone from context 'Foo'" (c) Implement a public Bar::__clone() and throw an Exception so attempting to clone $bar fails Whichever way, Foo is responsible for knowing that Bar cannot be cloned and should adjust its own behavior accordingly. Previous Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2013-09-20 03:50:39] metamarkers at gmail dot com Description: ------------ It would be nice if an object could determine whether or not it should be included in a clone, by returning a value that should be used in its stead, or an updated clone of itself, or anything of the like. Test script: --------------- class Foo { } class Bar { public function __inClone ( $clone ) { return $clone instanceof Foo ? null : $this; } } $foo = new Foo(); $foo->bar = new Bar(); $foo2 = clone $foo; isset($foo2->bar); // false ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Edit this bug report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=65718&edit=1