Bug #73700 [Dup]: Inconsistent behavior when accessing scalars as an array

Edit report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=73700&edit=1 ID: 73700 User updated by: onno dot marsman at gmail dot com Reported by: onno dot marsman at gmail dot com -Summary: Incosistent behavior when accessing scalars as an array +Summary: Inconsistent behavior when accessing scalars as an array Status: Duplicate Type: Bug Package: Variables related PHP Version: Irrelevant Block user comment: N Private report: N New Comment: That is good news, thank you Previous Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2016-12-09 12:50:13] requinix@php.net This is a known issue pending implementation. https://wiki.php.net/rfc/notice-for-non-valid-array-container ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2016-12-09 12:31:31] onno dot marsman at gmail dot com Description: ------------ If you write an array index to a number, a "Cannot use a scalar value as an array" is triggered. This is desired behavior. In several other similar cases when treating a scalar as an array this warning is not triggered, where this would be desired in my opinion. See test script for the examples. Because a string is a scalar you would expect this warning to be also triggered when accessing a string as an array, but of course this not desired, since accessing a string as an array is a feature. Therefor the message of the warning "Cannot use a scalar value as an array" maybe should be reconsidered. Test script: --------------- // The following case produces a "Cannot use a scalar value as an array" warning: // 1. write as an array to a number $a = 1; $a[1] = 1; // The following cases do not produce this warning: // 2. write as an array to null $a = null; $a[1] = 1; // 3. write as an array to false $a = false; $a[1] = 1; // 4. read as an array from a number $a = 1; var_dump($a[1]); // results in NULL // 5. read as an array from null $a = null; var_dump($a[1]); // results in NULL // 6. read as an array from false $a = false; var_dump($a[1]); // results in NULL Expected result: ---------------- Get 6 warnings instead of just 1. Actual result: -------------- Only 1 warning. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Edit this bug report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=73700&edit=1