Req #76865 [Com]: RFC: make `array_*` functions handling `iterable`, not only `array`

Edit report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=76865&edit=1 ID: 76865 Comment by: zhujinxuan at gmail dot com Reported by: scif-1986 at ya dot ru Summary: RFC: make array_* functions handling iterable, not only array Status: Open Type: Feature/Change Request Package: Arrays related PHP Version: Next Minor Version Block user comment: N Private report: N New Comment: Personally, I think it is better to provide a namespace like STD and then, in that namespace, implement functions polyfilled for array. iterator and all possible foldable interfaces. For that library, we can use an PHP implementation as the first release, and then make it to C and merge it to main PHP branch when the API seems stable, For a long time, we are in a lack of standard library with consistency. Previous Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2018-09-12 04:18:17] requinix@php.net Some comments that will likely arise: * The single-pass functions (eg, map, column, chunk, combine) could benefit from this * The more complicated functions (eg, diff) would need iterator_to_array * iterator_apply would presumably be made an alias of array_map * These functions can be called multiple times on arrays but not necessarily so on iterators * What happens when the iterator is exhausted? That last point is the main reason why this question tends to be resolved one way: using iterator_to_array is a benefit, not a hindrance, as it reminds the developer that the source was not a simple array that can be easily reused. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2018-09-12 01:29:11] scif-1986 at ya dot ru Actually, these functions will still return an array as a result :) Also, I can't find any suitable name for such functions. iterable_diff()? Looks ugly. And array will still be the valid input. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2018-09-12 01:20:21] carusogabriel@php.net This is something I'd love to see implemented, but, I don't know if we should change the array_* functions. By they starting with "array_", we presume that one of the arguments is gonna be an array, not an iterable. I can try to create POC within the next weeks and open for discussion on internals@ :) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2018-09-12 01:04:19] scif-1986 at ya dot ru Description: ------------ The iterable pseudo-type has been introduced for a while and is very useful. While array_*() core functions are still doesn't support iterable as argument and works with array only. Obviously, I'm talking about array_map()/array_column()/array_diff(),array_chunk()/array_combine()… which don't change an argument by pointer. Sorry, don't know C, so it's just an idea :) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Edit this bug report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=76865&edit=1