Req #76811 [Opn]: Add option to var_export so arrays use brackets []

Edit report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=76811&edit=1 ID: 76811 Updated by: cmb@php.net Reported by: mark at seventhcycle dot net Summary: Add option to var_export so arrays use brackets [] Status: Open Type: Feature/Change Request -Package: Arrays related +Package: Variables related Operating System: Any PHP Version: Next Minor Version Block user comment: N Private report: N New Comment: There is a respective RFC, but apparently that went nowhere. [1] <https://wiki.php.net/rfc/var-export-array-syntax> Previous Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2018-08-29 22:38:15] cmb@php.net Makes some sense, in my opinion. Instead of bool parameter, I'd go for a bitset instead, since there may well be other useful options. I suggest to discuss this on the internals@ mailing list[1]. [1] <http://php.net/mailing-lists.php#internals> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2018-08-29 20:31:54] mark at seventhcycle dot net Description: ------------ Right now, any arrays that are exported via var_export use the longer array() syntax. What would be useful here is a third optional argument to var_export: e.g: var_export($arr, FALSE, TRUE); Where if the third argument is set to true, the output would use the shorter, PHP 5.4 syntax. There are already functions out there (search for var_export54) that do this sort of thing, however, it would be useful if this were in core PHP. The third argument isn't necessary, however, I propose doing it this way to not break compatibility for existing people who are using var_export. Test script: --------------- $arr = [ 'key' => 'value', 'mushroom' => [ 'badger' => 1 ] ]; var_export($arr, FALSE, TRUE); Expected result: ---------------- [ 'key' => 'value', 'mushroom' => [ 'badger' => 1 ] ] Actual result: -------------- array ( 'key' => 'value', 'mushroom' => array ( 'badger' => 1, ), ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Edit this bug report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=76811&edit=1