RE: [PHP-DEV] Type hints with null default values

PHP doesn't have a concept of a "null" reference though. So to say that every other language allows it is not a valid argument. The other languages allow it because the language supports it. And that seems to be what the arguments against it centered around. I think a compromise would be to allow the argument to be optional but still enforce the type hint. What this doesn't address fully is multiple optional type hinted arguments. function A(ZObj $arg2=null, ZObj $arg3=null) {} How would you pass $arg3 if you didn't have anything to pass for $arg2. Maybe that's just an inherent restriction of the language...to pass $arg3, you have to pass a ZObj as $arg2. Someone else suggested adding null references to the language: ZObj $obj = null; But I don't think that is the right solution either not to mention the nightmare of actually implementing it. Bob -----Original Message----- From: Cristiano Duarte [mailto:cunha17@uol.com.br] Sent: Saturday, October 16, 2004 3:01 PM To: internals@lists.php.net Subject: RE: [PHP-DEV] Type hints with null default values Robert Silva wrote: > I think Marcus B's final comments in the original discussion are right on > track. > > Stab: I voted for NULL type hinted arguments before I voted against them. > > The main thing that changed my mind, is that in PHP there is no such thing > as a NULL object. I came to the conclusion that PHP wasn't broken, my > programming style/code was. > > My opinion is that they should stay as they are now although personally. > > Now with that said, I do think there needs to be a method to allow a type > hinted parameter to be optional (but not necessarily null). That's what I'm asking for. :-) I'm not asking for null objects, just an optional parameter that must be an object or a "null" reference. All OO languages I've ever programmed had this kind of reference(Java, C++, Delphi, etc.) Cristiano Duarte -- PHP Internals - PHP Runtime Development Mailing List To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php