What New Will PHP 8 Bring In 2022?

Are you holding your horses for PHP 8? Understandably, it will be the key for the web development fraternity. Be it programmers or entrepreneurs they’ll have avenues of opportunities in 2022. Moreover, PHP 8.0 will be a mega edition as it explores a lot of features and performance improvements.

Talking about RFC, it will be accepted and introduced already. It will help immerse in the most exciting features to make PHP an all-time hit.

Of course, bound to change codes for this PHP 8 because of the breaking improvements.

Amidst this Covid-19 phase for enterprise solutions, this will be a preferred choice to hire PHP developers to be loaded with unique features. As it is supposed to be released and a fortnight away from making its impression felt.

Through this blog, Let’s point out the highlight of the new PHP 8:

PHP 8 will be the key for programmers in 2022 because it helps store a bundle of opportunities for both the programmers & developers. Thus, giving offshore companies a great chance to hire Indian programmers for diverse programming needs improvements.

So what is unique about PHP 8.0?

Source: Google

Let’s  Understand  Each Attribute in Detail:

Union types rfc

We all skills a dynamic PHP is in many cases where union types are useful in unison cases with two or more indicators.

public function foo(Foo|Bar $input): int|float;

Remember, it can never be a part of a union type since it indicates “no return value in the least .”

Also, nullable unions are often written using |null, or by using the existing? notation:

public function foo(Foo|null $foo): void;

public function bar(?Bar $bar): void;

The Nullsafe Operator

If you’re conversant in the null coalescing operator, implying familiarity with the shortcomings: it doesn’t work on method calls. Instead, you would like intermediate checks or believe optional helpers provided by frameworks:

Match Expression

The senior pro of the switch expression: help return values, doesn’t require break statements, can combine conditions, uses strict type comparisons, and doesn’t do any sort of coercion.

It looks like this:

$result = match($input) {

0 => “hello”,

‘1’, ‘2’, ‘3’ => “world”,

};

Constructor Property Promotion

This RFC adds syntactic sugar to make value objects or data transfer objects. Rather than specifying class properties and a constructor, PHP can collect them into one.

New mixed type rfc

For many, it is a necessary evil: the mixed type causes mixed feelings.

A good argument to form for it, though: a missing type can mean many things in PHP:

A function returns nothing or null. We’re expecting various types that cannot be type hinted in PHP. Since the explanations listed above, it is a good thing that mixed type is added. mixed itself means one among these types:

array

bool

callable

int

float

null

object

resource

String

Note that mixed also can be used as a parameter or property type, not like return type.

Since mixed already includes null, it isn’t allowed to form it nullable.

Hence will trigger an error:

// Fatal error: Mixed types can’t be nullable; null is already a part of the mixed type.

function bar(): ?mixed {}

New Mix Type

The mixed type causes many to go through different emotions. An honest argument to form for it, though: a missing variety can mean many things in PHP:

A function returns nothing or null. Expecting several types that hints at PHP. As stated above, it is a good thing the mixed type is added. Mixed itself means one among these types:

array

bool

callable

int

float

null

object

resource

string

Note that hybrid also can be used as a parameter or property type, not just a return type.

Since mixed already includes null, it isn’t allowed to form it nullable. The subsequent will trigger an error:

// Fatal error: Mixed types can’t be nullable; null is already a part of the mixed type.

function bar(): ?mixed {}

Throw Expression

This RFC changes throw from being a press release to being an expression, making it possible to throw exception in new places:

$triggerError = fn () => throw new MyError();

$foo = $bar[‘offset’] ?? throw new OffsetDoesNotExist(‘offset’);

Inheritance with Private Method

In earlier versions, equivalent inheritance checks on public, protected, and personal methods. In other ways: private methods follow identical signature method rules as protected and public methods.

Not making any sense; however, private methods won’t be accessible by child classes.

This RFC did take hold to stop inheritance checks to be performed on private methods anymore. Furthermore, the ultimate private function also didn’t add up, so doing so will now trigger a warning:

Warning: Private methods aren’t conclusive as others never override them.

Weak Maps rfc

Built upon the weak refs RFC added in PHP 7.4, a WeakMap implementation added in PHP 8. WeakMap holds references to things, disallows objects from being garbage collected.

Let’s take the instance of ORMs; they often implement caches holding references to entity classes to enhance relations between entities. These entity objects can’t be garbage collected as long as this cache references them, albeit the cache is the only reference.

The caching layer collaborates with weak references instead of maps.PHP will garbage collect these objects when nothing else works.ORM’s help while managing several hundred, if not thousands of entities within an invitation, weak maps offer a resource-friendly way of handling objects.

Namespaced names being one token rfc

PHP interpreted each a part of a namespace (separated by a backslash \) as a sequence of tokens. Hence RFC is changing behavior, meaning reserved names to be utilized in namespaces.

Allowing:: class on objects rfc

A small, yet useful, new feature: it’s now possible to use::class on objects, rather than using get_class() on them. It works equivalently as get_class().

$foo = new Foo();

var_dump($foo::class);

Non-capturing catches rfc

Whenever PHP 8 catches an expression, you had to store it during a variable, whether you used that variable or not. With non-capturing, it helps omit the variable, so rather than this:

Note that it’s required to specify the type; you’re not allowed to possess an empty catch. If you would like to catch all exceptions and errors, you’ll use throwable because of the catching type.

Namespaced names being one token rfc

PHP won’t interpret each part of a namespace (separated by a backslash \) as a sequence of tokens. This RFC changed that behavior, meaning reserved names and utilized in namespaces.

#Saner numeric strings rfc

PHP’s type system incorporates tons of smart things while encountering things. It’s hence making RFC behavior more consistent and clear.

Saner string to number comparisons rfcavenues

This RFC fixes the bizarre PHP case where 0 == “foo” leads to true. It’s another edge case like that one, and this RFC fixes them.

Reflection method signature changes

Three method signatures of reflection classes are changed:

Create DateTime objects from the interface

It will allow you create a DateTime object from a DateTimeImmutable object using DateTime::createFromImmutable($immutableDateTime), but the opposite considered tricky..

By adding DateTime::createFromInterface() and DatetimeImmutable::createFromInterface() there’s now a generalised thanks to convert DateTime and DateTimeImmutable objects to every other.

DateTime::createFromInterface(DateTimeInterface $other);

DateTimeImmutable::createFromInterface(DateTimeInterface $other);

New Stringable interface rfc

The string able interface won’t type-hint anything implements __toString(). Whenever a category implements __toString(), it automatically executes the interface behind the scenes, and hence no need for manual implementation.

New get_debug_type() function rfc

get_debug_type() returns the sort of a variable. seems like something gettype() would do? get_debug_type() returns more useful output for arrays, strings, anonymous classes and objects.

For example, calling gettype() on a category \Foo\Bar would return object. Using get_debug_type() will return the category name.

A complete difference between get_debug_type() and gettype() is out there within the RFC.

New get_resource_id() function pr

Resources are unique variables in PHP about external resources. One example may be a MySQL connection, another one a filehandle.

Abstract methods in traits improvements rfc

Traits can specify abstract methods to be implemented by the classes using them. There is a caveat, though: before PHP 8 the signature of that method implementation wasn’t validated.

The following was valid:

trait Test {

abstract public function test(int $input): int;

}

class UsesTrait

{

use Test;

public function test($input)

{

return $input;

}

}

PHP 8 will be performing proper method signature validation when employing a trait and implementing its abstract methods. This suggests you will need to write down this ahead.

Object implementation of token_get_all() rfc

The token_get_all() function returns an array of values. This RFC adds a PhpToken class with a PhpToken::tokenize() method. This implementation works with objects rather than plain values. It consumes less memory and is readable.

Variable syntax tweaks rfc

From the RFC: “the Uniform Variable Syntax RFC resolved several inconsistencies in PHP’s variable syntax. This RFC intends to deal with a little handful rarely overlooked.

#Type annotations for internal functions externals

Lots of people pitched in to feature proper type annotations to all or any internal functions. A long-standing issue and eventually solvable with all the changes made to PHP in previous versions. This suggests that internal functions and methods will have complete type information in reflection.

#ext-json always available rfc

Earlier compiling PHP without the JSON extension was feasible but not possible anymore. Since JSON is so widely used, the developers believe. Rather than having to make sure the extension exists first.

Breaking changes

As mentioned before: A severe update and hence won’t leave for breaking changes. The simplest thing is to review the complete list of breaking changes over at the UPGRADING document.

These breaking changes are deprecated in previous 7.* versions, though, so if you have been staying up-to-date over the years, it will be easier to upgrade to PHP 8.

Consistent type errors rfc

User-defined PHP functions will already throw TypeError, but internal functions didn’t; they instead emitted warnings and returned null. As of PHP 8, the behavior of internal processes is consistent.

Reclassified engine warnings rfc

Default error reporting level

It’s now E_ALL rather than everything but E_NOTICE and E_DEPRECATED. Errors might crop up which were previously silently ignored, though probably already existent before PHP 8.

#Default PDO error mode rfc

From the RFC: the default error mode for PDO is silent. It suggests that no errors or warnings could also be emitted when an SQL error occurs, and no exceptions are thrown unless the developer implements explicit error handling.

This RFC changes the default error will change to PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION in PHP 8.

#Concatenation precedence rfcis taken

While already deprecated in PHP 7.4, when the alteration is taken into effect. If you’d write something like this:

echo “sum: “ $a + $b;

Stricter type checks for arithmetic and bitwise operators rfc

Before PHP 8, it had been possible to use arithmetic or bitwise operators on arrays, resources, or objects. this is not possible anymore, and can throw a TypeError:

[] % [42];

$object + 4;

Namespaced names being one token rfc

PHP interprets every namespace (separated by a backslash \) as a sequence of tokens. This RFC changed that behavior, meaning reserved names are utilized in namespaces.

Saner numeric strings rfc

PHP’s type system tries loads of smart things when it encounters numbers in strings. This RFC makes that behavior more consistent and clear.

Saner string to number comparisons rfc

This RFC fixes the bizarre PHP case where 0 == “foo” leads to true. In other edge cases like that one, and this RFC fixes them.

Reflection method signature changes

Three method signatures of reflection classes are changed:

ReflectionClass::newInstance($args);

ReflectionFunction::invoke($args);

ReflectionMethod::invoke($obje

Now changes to:

ReflectionClass::newInstance(…$args);

ReflectionFunction::invoke(…$args);

ReflectionMethod::invoke($object, …$args);

The upgrading guide specifies when extending these classes and still want to support both PHP 7 and PHP 8, the subsequent signatures are allowed:

ReflectionClass::newInstance($arg = null, …$args);

ReflectionFunction::invoke($arg = null, …$args);

ReflectionMethod::invoke($object, $arg = null, …$args);

Stable sorting rfc

Before PHP 8, sorting algorithms were unstable. They were now suggesting the order of equal elements wasn’t guaranteed. PHP 8 changes the behavior of all sorting functions to stable sorting.

Fatal error for incompatible method signatures rfc

The RFC: Inheritance errors occurred because method signatures currently either throw a fatal error or warnings counting on the explanation for the error and, therefore, the inheritance hierarchy.

#Other deprecations and changes

During PHP 7.* development, several deprecations were added that to finalize in PHP 8.

Deprecations in PHP 7.2

Deprecations in PHP 7.3

Deprecations in PHP 7.4

Locale-independent float to string cast

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Summary:  

One of the good things about PHP 8 as it is not about single feature addition but a gamut of services that‘ll transform programmers’ lives to produce iconic enterprise solutions. With this, one would seek numerous advantages. For getting a better insight, you can hire Indian programmers for an extensive range of benefits.