archived-doc-en/language/types/declarations.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!-- $Revision$ -->
<sect1 xml:id="language.types.declarations">
 <title>Type declarations</title>

 <para>
  Type declarations can be added to function arguments, return values,
  and, as of PHP 7.4.0, class properties. They ensure that the value
  is of the specified type at call time, otherwise a
  <classname>TypeError</classname> is thrown.
 </para>

 <para>
  Every single type that PHP supports, with the exception of
  <type>resource</type> can be used within a user-land type declaration.
  This page contains a changelog of availability of the different types
  and documentation about usage of them in type declarations.
 </para>

 <note>
  <para>
   When a class implements an interface method or reimplements a method which
   has already been defined by a parent class, it has to be compatible with the
   aforementioned definition.
   A method is compatible if it follows the
   <link linkend="language.oop5.variance">variance</link> rules.
  </para>
 </note>

 <sect2 role="changelog">
  &reftitle.changelog;
  <informaltable>
   <tgroup cols="2">
    <thead>
     <row>
      <entry>&Version;</entry>
      <entry>&Description;</entry>
     </row>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
     <row>
      <entry>8.2.0</entry>
      <entry>
       Support for <acronym>DNF</acronym> types has been added.
      </entry>
     </row>
     <row>
      <entry>8.2.0</entry>
      <entry>
       Support for the literal type <type>true</type> has been added.
      </entry>
     </row>
     <row>
      <entry>8.2.0</entry>
      <entry>
       The types <type>null</type> and <type>false</type> can now be used standalone.
      </entry>
     </row>
     <row>
      <entry>8.1.0</entry>
      <entry>
       Support for intersection types has been added.
      </entry>
     </row>
     <row>
      <entry>8.1.0</entry>
      <entry>
       Returning by reference from a <type>void</type> function is now deprecated.
      </entry>
     </row>
     <row>
      <entry>8.1.0</entry>
      <entry>
       Support for the return only type <type>never</type> has been added.
      </entry>
     </row>
     <row>
      <entry>8.0.0</entry>
      <entry>
       Support for <type>mixed</type> has been added.
      </entry>
     </row>
     <row>
      <entry>8.0.0</entry>
      <entry>
       Support for the return only type <type>static</type> has been added.
      </entry>
     </row>
     <row>
      <entry>8.0.0</entry>
      <entry>
       Support for union types has been added.
      </entry>
     </row>
     <row>
      <entry>7.2.0</entry>
      <entry>
       Support for <type>object</type> has been added.
      </entry>
     </row>
     <row>
      <entry>7.1.0</entry>
      <entry>
       Support for <type>iterable</type> has been added.
      </entry>
     </row>
     <row>
      <entry>7.1.0</entry>
      <entry>
       Support for <type>void</type> has been added.
      </entry>
     </row>
     <row>
      <entry>7.1.0</entry>
      <entry>
       Support for nullable types has been added.
      </entry>
     </row>
    </tbody>
   </tgroup>
  </informaltable>
 </sect2>

 <sect2 xml:id="language.types.declarations.base">
  <title>Base Types Usage Notes</title>

  <simpara>
   Base types have straight forward behaviour with some minor caveats which
   are described in this section.
  </simpara>

  <sect3 xml:id="language.types.declarations.base.scalar">
   <title>Scalar types</title>
   <warning>
    <para>
     Name aliases for scalar types (<type>bool</type>, <type>int</type>,
     <type>float</type>, <type>string</type>) are not supported.
     Instead, they are treated as class or interface names.
     For example, using <literal>boolean</literal> as a type declaration
     will require the value to be an &instanceof; the class or interface
     <literal>boolean</literal>, rather than of type <type>bool</type>:
    </para>
    <example>
     <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php
    function test(boolean $param) {}
    test(true);
?>
]]>
     </programlisting>
     &example.outputs.8;
     <screen>
<![CDATA[
Warning: "boolean" will be interpreted as a class name. Did you mean "bool"? Write "\boolean" to suppress this warning in /in/9YrUX on line 2

Fatal error: Uncaught TypeError: test(): Argument #1 ($param) must be of type boolean, bool given, called in - on line 3 and defined in -:2
Stack trace:
#0 -(3): test(true)
#1 {main}
  thrown in - on line 2
]]>
     </screen>
    </example>
   </warning>
  </sect3>

  <sect3 xml:id="language.types.declarations.void">
   <title>void</title>
   <note>
    <para>
     Returning by reference from a <type>void</type> function is deprecated as of PHP 8.1.0,
     because such a function is contradictory.
     Previously, it already emitted the following
     <constant>E_NOTICE</constant> when called:
     <literal>Only variable references should be returned by reference</literal>.

     <informalexample>
      <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php
function &test(): void {}
?>
]]>
      </programlisting>
     </informalexample>
    </para>
   </note>
  </sect3>

  <sect3 xml:id="language.types.declarations.base.function">
   <title>Callable types</title>
   <para>
    This type cannot be used as a class property type declaration.
   </para>

   <note>
    <simpara>
     It is not possible to specify the signature of the function.
    </simpara>
   </note>
  </sect3>

  <sect3 xml:id="language.types.declarations.references">
   <title>Type declarations on pass-by-reference Parameters</title>

   <simpara>
    If a pass-by-reference parameter has a type declaration, the type of the
    variable is <emphasis>only</emphasis> checked on function entry, at the
    beginning of the call, but not when the function returns.
    This means that a function can change the type of variable reference.
   </simpara>
   <example>
    <title>Typed pass-by-reference Parameters</title>
    <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php
function array_baz(array &$param)
{
    $param = 1;
}
$var = [];
array_baz($var);
var_dump($var);
array_baz($var);
?>
]]>
    </programlisting>
    &example.outputs.similar;
    <screen>
<![CDATA[
int(1)

Fatal error: Uncaught TypeError: array_baz(): Argument #1 ($param) must be of type array, int given, called in - on line 9 and defined in -:2
Stack trace:
#0 -(9): array_baz(1)
#1 {main}
  thrown in - on line 2
]]>
    </screen>
   </example>
  </sect3>
 </sect2>

 <sect2 xml:id="language.types.declarations.composite">
  <title>Composite Types Usage Notes</title>
  <para>
   Composite type declarations are subject to a couple of restrictions and
   will perform a redundancy check at compile time to prevent simple bugs.
  </para>

  <caution>
   <simpara>
    Prior to PHP 8.2.0, and the introduction of <acronym>DNF</acronym> types,
    it was not possible to combine intersection types with union types.
   </simpara>
  </caution>

  <sect3 xml:id="language.types.declarations.composite.union">
   <title>Union types</title>
   <warning>
    <simpara>
     It is not possible to combine the two literal types <literal>false</literal>
     and <literal>true</literal> together in a union type.
     Use <type>bool</type> instead.
    </simpara>
   </warning>

   <caution>
    <simpara>
     Prior to PHP 8.2.0, as <literal>false</literal> and <type>null</type>
     could not be used as standalone types, a union type comprised of only
     these types was not permitted. This comprises the following types:
     <literal>false</literal>, <literal>false|null</literal>,
     and <literal>?false</literal>.
    </simpara>
   </caution>

   <sect4 xml:id="language.types.declarations.nullable">
    <title>Nullable type syntactic sugar</title>

    <para>
     A single base type declaration can be marked nullable by prefixing the
     type with a question mark (<literal>?</literal>).
     Thus <literal>?T</literal> and <literal>T|null</literal> are identical.
    </para>

    <note>
     <simpara>
      This syntax is supported as of PHP 7.1.0, and predates generalized union
      types support.
     </simpara>
    </note>

    <note>
     <para>
      It is also possible to achieve nullable arguments by making
      <literal>null</literal> the default value.
      This is not recommended as if the default value is changed in a child
      class a type compatibility violation will be raised as the
      <type>null</type> type will need to be added to the type declaration.
     </para>
     <example>
      <title>Old way to make arguments nullable</title>
      <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php
class C {}

function f(C $c = null) {
    var_dump($c);
}

f(new C);
f(null);
?>
]]>
      </programlisting>
      &example.outputs;
      <screen>
<![CDATA[
object(C)#1 (0) {
}
NULL
]]>
      </screen>
     </example>
    </note>
   </sect4>
  </sect3>

  <sect3 xml:id="language.types.declarations.composite.redundant">
   <title>Duplicate and redundant types</title>
   <para>
    To catch simple bugs in composite type declarations, redundant types that
    can be detected without performing class loading will result in a
    compile-time error. This includes:

    <itemizedlist>
     <listitem>
      <simpara>
       Each name-resolved type may only occur once. Types such as
       <literal>int|string|INT</literal> or
       <literal>Countable&amp;Traversable&amp;COUNTABLE</literal>
       result in an error.
      </simpara>
     </listitem>
     <listitem>
      <simpara>
       Using <type>mixed</type> results in an error.
      </simpara>
     </listitem>
     <listitem>
      <simpara>For union types:</simpara>
      <itemizedlist>
       <listitem>
        <simpara>
         If <type>bool</type> is used, <type>false</type> or <type>true</type>
         cannot be used additionally.
        </simpara>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <simpara>
         If <type>object</type> is used, class types cannot be used additionally.
        </simpara>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <simpara>
         If <type>iterable</type> is used, <type>array</type>
         and <classname>Traversable</classname> cannot be used additionally.
        </simpara>
       </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
     </listitem>
     <listitem>
      <simpara>For intersection types:</simpara>
      <itemizedlist>
       <listitem>
        <simpara>
         Using a type which is not a class-type results in an error.
        </simpara>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <simpara>
         Using either <type>self</type>, <type>parent</type>, or
         <type>static</type> results in an error.
        </simpara>
       </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
     </listitem>
     <listitem>
      <simpara>For <acronym>DNF</acronym> types:</simpara>
      <itemizedlist>
       <listitem>
        <simpara>
         If a more generic type is used, the more restrictive one is redundant.
        </simpara>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <simpara>
         Using two identical intersection types.
        </simpara>
       </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
     </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
   </para>

   <note>
    <simpara>
     This does not guarantee that the type is “minimal”, because doing so would
     require loading all used class types.
    </simpara>
   </note>

   <para>
    For example, if <literal>A</literal> and <literal>B</literal> are class
    aliases, then <literal>A|B</literal> remains a legal union type, even
    though it could be reduced to either <literal>A</literal> or
    <literal>B</literal>.
    Similarly, if class <code>B extends A {}</code>, then <literal>A|B</literal>
    is also a legal union type, even though it could be reduced to just
    <literal>A</literal>.

    <informalexample>
     <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php
function foo(): int|INT {} // Disallowed
function foo(): bool|false {} // Disallowed
function foo(): int&Traversable {} // Disallowed
function foo(): self&Traversable {} // Disallowed

use A as B;
function foo(): A|B {} // Disallowed ("use" is part of name resolution)
function foo(): A&B {} // Disallowed ("use" is part of name resolution)

class_alias('X', 'Y');
function foo(): X|Y {} // Allowed (redundancy is only known at runtime)
function foo(): X&Y {} // Allowed (redundancy is only known at runtime)
?>
]]>
     </programlisting>
    </informalexample>
   </para>
  </sect3>
 </sect2>

 <sect2 xml:id="language.types.declarations.examples">
  &reftitle.examples;
  <example>
   <title>Basic class type declaration</title>
   <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php
class C {}
class D extends C {}

// This doesn't extend C.
class E {}

function f(C $c) {
    echo get_class($c)."\n";
}

f(new C);
f(new D);
f(new E);
?>
]]>
   </programlisting>
   &example.outputs.8;
   <screen>
<![CDATA[
C
D

Fatal error: Uncaught TypeError: f(): Argument #1 ($c) must be of type C, E given, called in /in/gLonb on line 14 and defined in /in/gLonb:8
Stack trace:
#0 -(14): f(Object(E))
#1 {main}
  thrown in - on line 8
]]>
   </screen>
  </example>

  <example>
   <title>Basic interface type declaration</title>
   <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php
interface I { public function f(); }
class C implements I { public function f() {} }

// This doesn't implement I.
class E {}

function f(I $i) {
    echo get_class($i)."\n";
}

f(new C);
f(new E);
?>
]]>
   </programlisting>
   &example.outputs.8;
   <screen>
<![CDATA[
C

Fatal error: Uncaught TypeError: f(): Argument #1 ($i) must be of type I, E given, called in - on line 13 and defined in -:8
Stack trace:
#0 -(13): f(Object(E))
#1 {main}
  thrown in - on line 8
]]>
   </screen>
  </example>

  <example>
   <title>Basic return type declaration</title>
   <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php
function sum($a, $b): float {
    return $a + $b;
}

// Note that a float will be returned.
var_dump(sum(1, 2));
?>
]]>
   </programlisting>
   &example.outputs;
   <screen>
<![CDATA[
float(3)
]]>
   </screen>
  </example>

  <example>
   <title>Returning an object</title>
   <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php
class C {}

function getC(): C {
    return new C;
}

var_dump(getC());
?>
]]>
   </programlisting>
   &example.outputs;
   <screen>
<![CDATA[
object(C)#1 (0) {
}
]]>
   </screen>
  </example>

  <example>
   <title>Nullable argument type declaration</title>
   <programlisting role="php">
    <![CDATA[
<?php
class C {}

function f(?C $c) {
    var_dump($c);
}

f(new C);
f(null);
?>
]]>
   </programlisting>
   &example.outputs;
   <screen>
    <![CDATA[
object(C)#1 (0) {
}
NULL
]]>
   </screen>
  </example>

  <example>
   <title>Nullable return type declaration</title>
   <programlisting role="php">
    <![CDATA[
<?php
function get_item(): ?string {
    if (isset($_GET['item'])) {
        return $_GET['item'];
    } else {
        return null;
    }
}
?>
]]>
   </programlisting>
  </example>
 </sect2>

  <!-- TODO Move this into its own declare page -->
 <sect2 xml:id="language.types.declarations.strict">
  <title>Strict typing</title>

  <para>
   By default, PHP will coerce values of the wrong type into the expected
   scalar type declaration if possible. For example, a function that is given
   an <type>int</type> for a parameter that expects a <type>string</type>
   will get a variable of type <type>string</type>.
  </para>

  <para>
   It is possible to enable strict mode on a per-file basis. In strict
   mode, only a value corresponding exactly to the type declaration will be
   accepted, otherwise a <classname>TypeError</classname> will be thrown.
   The only exception to this rule is that an <type>int</type> value will
   pass a <type>float</type> type declaration.
  </para>

  <warning>
   <simpara>
    Function calls from within internal functions will not be affected by
    the <literal>strict_types</literal> declaration.
   </simpara>
  </warning>

  <para>
   To enable strict mode, the &declare; statement is used with the
   <literal>strict_types</literal> declaration:
  </para>

  <note>
   <para>
    Strict typing applies to function calls made from
    <emphasis>within</emphasis> the file with strict typing enabled, not to
    the functions declared within that file. If a file without strict
    typing enabled makes a call to a function that was defined in a file
    with strict typing, the caller's preference (coercive typing) will be
    respected, and the value will be coerced.
   </para>
  </note>

  <note>
   <para>
    Strict typing is only defined for scalar type declarations.
   </para>
  </note>

  <example>
   <title>Strict typing for arguments values</title>
   <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

function sum(int $a, int $b) {
    return $a + $b;
}

var_dump(sum(1, 2));
var_dump(sum(1.5, 2.5));
?>
]]>
   </programlisting>
   &example.outputs.8;
   <screen>
<![CDATA[
int(3)

Fatal error: Uncaught TypeError: sum(): Argument #1 ($a) must be of type int, float given, called in - on line 9 and defined in -:4
Stack trace:
#0 -(9): sum(1.5, 2.5)
#1 {main}
  thrown in - on line 4
]]>
   </screen>
  </example>

  <example>
   <title>Coercive typing for argument values</title>
   <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php
function sum(int $a, int $b) {
    return $a + $b;
}

var_dump(sum(1, 2));

// These will be coerced to integers: note the output below!
var_dump(sum(1.5, 2.5));
?>
]]>
   </programlisting>
   &example.outputs;
   <screen>
<![CDATA[
int(3)
int(3)
]]>
   </screen>
  </example>

  <example>
   <title>Strict typing for return values</title>
   <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

function sum($a, $b): int {
    return $a + $b;
}

var_dump(sum(1, 2));
var_dump(sum(1, 2.5));
?>
]]>
   </programlisting>
   &example.outputs;
   <screen>
<![CDATA[
int(3)

Fatal error: Uncaught TypeError: sum(): Return value must be of type int, float returned in -:5
Stack trace:
#0 -(9): sum(1, 2.5)
#1 {main}
  thrown in - on line 5
]]>
   </screen>
  </example>
 </sect2>

</sect1>
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