Req #72579 [NEW]: Support (array)-casting for objects

From: geiger at karim dot email Operating system: PHP version: Next Major Version Package: *General Issues Bug Type: Feature/Change Request Bug description:Support (array)-casting for objects Description: ------------ Hi there, I recently stumbled upon the request #52583 (magic __toArray() for objects) while searching for a way to cast an object containing a list of items to an array for using it on functions like array_map(). There are many options to get to where I want to be, for example implement an interface having a toArray() method, but all of that is quite inconsistent, I think. I can see how having yet another magic __toArray()-method may not be a good thing, since it just raises more questions and problems, so I'd rather suggest something, which I think is the next logical step. As you all know, we are already able to implement interfaces like ArrayAccess, Countable, and Iterator. If we've done all that, we're almost where we want to be: Having an object act like an array. We now are able to use it in a foreach loop, assign, unset and alter values using the array-syntax ($foo[] = 'bar';), etc. The only thing that does not work is casting it to an array. If we do so, we'll always get an key-value-pair of its properties. I can see where that's useful, but if we already have all that methods on that object (offset*, next, key, valid, ...), why don't we use them? I'm suggesting the following behaviour: If a plain object with no interfaces gets casted to an array, maintaining the key-value-conversion is a great idea. But, if the object implements the (or a) Iterator-interface, why can't we "foreach" through that object and combine its keys and values in a true array, making it compatible to all (PHP)-functions and the array type? I hope this isn't a duplicate entry of some other feature request I didn't find. If not, I'd love to hear your opinion on this and if you think this makes sense. Best regards Karim Test script: --------------- Since this example implements the Iterator interface, it's a bit too long to paste here. You can visit the Gist at: https://gist.github.com/KarimGeiger/e3e4fbc4a1ec8c6564347b8a2a217334 Expected result: ---------------- array(2) { 'foo' => string(3) "bar" 'baz' => int(123) } Actual result: -------------- array(1) { '\0*\0items' => array(2) { 'foo' => string(3) "bar" 'baz' => int(123) } } -- Edit bug report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=72579&edit=1 -- Try a snapshot (PHP 5.4): https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=trysnapshot54 Try a snapshot (PHP 5.5): https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=trysnapshot55 Try a snapshot (trunk): https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=trysnapshottrunk Fixed in SVN: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=fixed Fixed in release: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=alreadyfixed Need backtrace: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=needtrace Need Reproduce Script: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=needscript Try newer version: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=oldversion Not developer issue: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=support Expected behavior: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=notwrong Not enough info: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=notenoughinfo Submitted twice: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=submittedtwice register_globals: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=globals PHP 4 support discontinued: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=php4 Daylight Savings: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=dst IIS Stability: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=isapi Install GNU Sed: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=gnused Floating point limitations: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=float No Zend Extensions: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=nozend MySQL Configuration Error: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=72579&r=mysqlcfg