#49524 [Bgs]: Inequalities example in SWITCH documentation

From: Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:27:06 +0000
Subject: #49524 [Bgs]: Inequalities example in SWITCH documentation
References: 1  Groups: php.doc.bugs 
Request: Send a blank email to doc-bugs+get-2807@lists.php.net to get a copy of this message
 ID:               49524
 User updated by:  matt at plasmacoustics dot com
 Reported By:      matt at plasmacoustics dot com
 Status:           Bogus
 Bug Type:         Documentation problem
 Operating System: WinXP SP3
 PHP Version:      5.3.0
 New Comment:

Dan:

There is another example, see
http://au.php.net/manual/en/control-structures.switch.php#93342

If $totaltime is ZERO, a confusing semantic error would result.
Reliance on the arbitrary argument being interpreted as TRUE seems
widespread.

Why not add a SWITCH example covering INEQUALITIES to the
documentation?


Previous Comments:
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[2009-09-12 02:01:59] matt at plasmacoustics dot com

Thanks for pointing out the errors. You're right, there are many
mistakes in the submission, do feel free to delete it.

I do maintain though that the SWITCH argument would be best as TRUE to
guarantee the expected behaviour instead of relying on the type
conversion.

jonybd at yahoo dot com has a note that deals with inequalities. An
official example would be well received if you so wished. Cheers.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

[2009-09-11 15:41:57] danbrown@php.net

Three things to point out:


1.) You posted the bug from a completely different page than the one to

which you make reference.

2.) You grossly misquoted the code of which you complained.

3.) You didn't test it yourself, because - if you had - you'd see that

it works as advertised.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

[2009-09-10 16:33:48] matt at plasmacoustics dot com

Description:
------------
I feel the documentation on SWITCH might best include the appropriate
code for dealing with inequalities in a CASE, using switch(TRUE),
because people are posting User Notes with incorrect implementations.

Eg from: sedativchunk at gmail dot com

<?php

$rand=rand(1,50);

switch($randomizer) {
    case ($randomizer <= 20):
        $font_size = "11";
    break;
}

?>

This isn't how switch() works! This will compare the value of
($randomizer) with the value of the inequality ($randomizer <= 20),
right?

Here is a better example of why it strikes me as dangerous:

<?php

$zero=0;

switch($zero) {
	case($zero > 1):
		print '0 > 1? No!';
	break;
}

?>

The above code will go into the case because it sees:
$zero[FALSE] == ($zero > 1)[also FALSE], leading to great coder
confusion.

The ACTUAL desired behaviour should be implemented with the code:

<?php

$zero=0;

switch(TRUE) {
	case($zero > 1):
		print '0 > 1? No!';
	break;
}

?>

Could we add an inequality example to the documentation and mend the
user-contributed note #88643?

Reproduce code:
---------------
---
From manual page: language.operators.comparison
---




------------------------------------------------------------------------


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