Req #70582 [Opn]: Referncing NotExistingClass::class should trigger error/warning/notice

Edit report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=70582&edit=1 ID: 70582 User updated by: andreas dot stangl at stansotec dot de Reported by: andreas dot stangl at stansotec dot de Summary: Referncing NotExistingClass::class should trigger error/warning/notice Status: Open Type: Feature/Change Request -Package: PHP Language Specification +Package: Class/Object related Operating System: Any PHP Version: Next Major Version Block user comment: N Private report: N New Comment: Changed "Package" to "Class/Object related". Previous Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2015-09-25 14:18:07] andreas dot stangl at stansotec dot de Description: ------------ When referencing the "magic" class constant "::class" the interpreter does not care if the given class does not exist. If I have e.g. a class "My\FancyClass" and I access the "class" constant like echo My\FancyClass::class; I get "My\FancyClass" (which is pretty cool especially for unit tests). But if e.g. My\FancyClass gets renamed to "My\FoobarClass" the interpreter will not complain at all. But referencing any other (not existing) constant of a not existing class like echo My\FoobarClass::blah; Produces a fatal error. This looks a little inconsistent to me. Test script: --------------- <?php namespace My; class FancyClass {} echo FancyClass::class . "\n"; // useful echo NotExistingClass::class . "\n"; // imho not so useful :-/ echo NotExistingClass::blah; // fatal error Expected result: ---------------- My\FancyClass PHP Fatal error: Class 'My\NotExistingClass' not found in testScript.php on line 7 Actual result: -------------- My\FancyClass My\NotExistingClass PHP Fatal error: Class 'My\NotExistingClass' not found in testScript.php on line 8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Edit this bug report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=70582&edit=1