#31497 [NEW]: "Variable functions" term ambiguous

From: php dot devel at homelinkcs dot com Operating system: N/A PHP version: Irrelevant PHP Bug Type: Documentation problem Bug description: "Variable functions" term ambiguous Description: ------------ Since it's a complex problem, I would like to stir up some discussion about the best way to solve the ambiguity of terms between "variable functions" (i.e. a function call in which the name of the function is contained in a varable: http://www.php.net/manual/en/functions.variable-functions.php) and "variable functions" (i.e. built-in functions for handling varables: http://www.php.net/manual/en/ref.var.php). In my learning and use of PHP, I have repeatedly encountered this term in both senses, requiring me to seek clarification of its meaning in contexts that are ambiguous. Therefore, I was wondering if it would be possible to change one of the terms. My suggestion would be to change the second sense to "variable handling functions" or something of a similar nature. Such a solution would preserve the analogue between "variable variables" and "variable functions" (in the first sense) and is also somewhat backwards-compatable. But I would like to know what others think. Any thoughts, suggestions on this issue? Anyone else had problems with it? If a conclusion can be reached, I'd be willing to do some, if not all, of the work to update the documentation. -- Edit bug report at http://bugs.php.net/?id=31497&edit=1 -- Try a CVS snapshot (php4): http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=trysnapshot4 Try a CVS snapshot (php5.0): http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=trysnapshot50 Try a CVS snapshot (php5.1): http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=trysnapshot51 Fixed in CVS: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=fixedcvs Fixed in release: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=alreadyfixed Need backtrace: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=needtrace Need Reproduce Script: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=needscript Try newer version: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=oldversion Not developer issue: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=support Expected behavior: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=notwrong Not enough info: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=notenoughinfo Submitted twice: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=submittedtwice register_globals: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=globals PHP 3 support discontinued: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=php3 Daylight Savings: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=dst IIS Stability: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=isapi Install GNU Sed: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=gnused Floating point limitations: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=float No Zend Extensions: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=nozend MySQL Configuration Error: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=31497&r=mysqlcfg