RE: [PHP-DEV] feature request

Fact is, using isset() with multiple arguments is much more necessary in real world than other is_*() functions. isset() is very often used to validate user input. Zeev At 23:27 19/3/2001, Chris Newbill wrote:

I agree Phil, that is the mature way to examine this. Except, I would be surprised if we _cannot_ apply the same reasoning to the other is_* functions, it's the exact same concept. I'm just not familiar enough with the internal workings to conclude whether is_*($x, $y, $z) would be efficient or even used for that matter. Although I might consider using it like if (isSet($a, $b) && is_int($a, $b)). -Chris -----Original Message----- From: Phil Driscoll [mailto:phil@dialsolutions.co.uk] Sent: Monday, 19 March, 2001 2-11 pM To: Chris Newbill; Zeev Suraski; Andi Gutmans; usrgre-php@tds.net Cc: PHP DEV Subject: Re: [PHP-DEV] feature request Andi said:

isset() is not an internal function but a language construct. I

disagree on

the "using additional arguments for other stuff part". It's often very weird that functions behave differently according to the way they are called

I've just done a quick count of the php functions which take an optional extra argument to change their behaviour, and I stopped when I reached 100. Fair enough, isset is a language construct, but most of the other isblahs/ext_isblahs are functions, however your average php programmer won't even know what this means, let alone be able to discriminate. My point is that if you are going to do it to isset, AND the language is to become more orthogonal then it MUST also be done to isanythingelse. I can see that there are no nasty repercussions with using the technique for isset, however there are many many isanythingelses and I'd be surprised if we can apply the reasoning across the board. I don't want to stifle innovation here, I just want us to think beyond the immediate problem when the language gets extended. Cheers -- Phil Driscoll Dial Solutions +44 (0)113 294 5112 http://www.dialsolutions.com http://www.dtonline.org

-- Zeev Suraski <zeev@zend.com> CTO & co-founder, Zend Technologies Ltd. http://www.zend.com/