Req #69486 [Opn->Wfx]: Add support foir _toBoolean magic method

Edit report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=69486&edit=1 ID: 69486 Updated by: cmb@php.net Reported by: adrian at adecsys dot com Summary: Add support foir _toBoolean magic method -Status: Open +Status: Wont fix Type: Feature/Change Request Package: Class/Object related Operating System: * PHP Version: 5.4.40 -Assigned To: +Assigned To: cmb Block user comment: N Private report: N New Comment: Seems there is not much interest in this feature, and given that the details have not been figured out, I'm closing this as WONTFIX. Anybody who is looking for a ::__toBoolean() magic method or something like this, is welcome to pursue the RFC process[1]. [1] <https://wiki.php.net/rfc/howto> Previous Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2015-05-07 17:01:13] cmb@php.net Related To: Bug #69594 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2015-04-27 23:02:35] cmb@php.net Proposal A would constitute a BC break, though. Consider existing code relying on boolean type juggling (or a cast) to test for object existence, where the object has a __toString method returning a "falsy" value (like in the given test script). With regard to proposal B: how is int (or float) juggling, for instance, supposed to work? (int) $obj->__toString() (int) $obj->__toBoolean() (int) $obj ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2015-04-20 08:02:26] adrian at adecsys dot com Description: ------------ --- From manual page: http://www.php.net/language.oop5.magic --- The inbuilt conversion of objects to Boolean, especially for expression evaluation, is poor and could be greatly improved. I propose one of two mechanisms: (a) Given the existing __toString() magic method, use this as an intermediate step in the conversion to a bool value, following the documented rules for string. or (b) add support for an explicit __toBoolean magic method, which allows the implentation to take full control over the resulting type. Thank you Test script: --------------- class NullObject { public function __toString() { return ""; } public function __toBoolean() { return false; } public function __call($name , $arguments) { return $this; } } $test = new NullObject(); echo $test ? "TRUE" : "FALSE" ; // TRUE, but logically expect FALSE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Edit this bug report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=69486&edit=1