#49202 [Opn->Csd]: php array documentation missing information on invalid key return value

ID: 49202 Updated by: torben@php.net Reported By: receive at cprogramming dot ca -Status: Open +Status: Closed Bug Type: Documentation problem Operating System: Web server PHP Version: Irrelevant New Comment: This bug has been fixed in the documentation's XML sources. Since the online and downloadable versions of the documentation need some time to get updated, we would like to ask you to be a bit patient. Thank you for the report, and for helping us make our documentation better. Previous Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2009-08-26 06:34:01] svn@php.net Automatic comment from SVN on behalf of torben Revision: http://svn.php.net/viewvc/?view=revision&revision=287729 Log: Clarified what will happen when attempting to access an undefined array index. Addresses Bug #49202. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2009-08-22 09:22:53] torben@php.net The resultant value is the same as for checking any undefined variable--it's null. That's the only value it can logically have; any other type would indicate a known value, which would be nonsense since you cannot know the type of something which does not exist. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2009-08-10 07:37:57] niel dot archer at blueyonder dot co dot uk Any default value would depend on context, as it does for all variables. See http://docs.php.net/manual/en/language.types.type-juggling.php If, as it appears, you want to know if the key exists. It would be better to test for that with the appropriate function ;-). Replace line 3 with: 3) if (!isset($a["testing_invalid_index"])){ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2009-08-09 19:16:12] receive at cprogramming dot ca Description: ------------ http://uk2.php.net/manual/de/language.types.array.php There's no explanation in the online documentation of what value is returned when you access an array with a key/index that doesn't exist. For example, on line 3, I cannot use the documentation to tell me what $a["testing_invalid_index"] will return to me. Does it return 0 or "" or null or false, or does it give an error? 1) $a[] = array(); 2) $a["sdfads"] = "booger"; 3) if ($a["testing_invalid_index"] == false){ 4) echo "Something"; 5) } Reproduce code: --------------- --- From manual page: language.types.array --- Expected result: ---------------- Documentation should indicate how an expression containing an array with an invalid key/index is evaluated. Actual result: -------------- Documentation is missing information on how an expression containing an array with an invalid key/index is evaluated. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Edit this bug report at http://bugs.php.net/?id=49202&edit=1