This page gives an overview of the current RFCs for PHP.

To create a new RFC, see How To Create an RFC.

Note: An RFC is effectively “owned” by the person that created it. If you want to make changes, get permission from the creator. If no agreement can be found, the only course of action is to create a competing RFC. In this case the old RFC page should be modified to become an intermediate page that points to all the competing RFC's.

A new page in this RFC namespace will automatically be loaded with an RFC template. Customize as needed.

• Crypt() function salt
  This RFC proposes changing crypt() function's salt parameter treatment.

This section is for RFCs that have been announced on the PHP “internals” mail list.

• Anonymous Class Support
  This RFC proposes support for anonymous classes.
• Nested Class Support
  This RFC proposes support for nested classes, following on from Anonymous Classes.
• Automatic Property Initialization
  This RFC proposes automatic assignments of constructor arguments to properties.
• Extended keyword support
  This RFC proposes to widen keyword support.
• Named Parameters
  This RFC proposes introducing named parameters.
• Argument unpacking
  This RFC proposes a syntax for argument unpacking.
• Internal Serialize API
  This RFC proposes API for internal generating of serialization.
• Support for anonymous catch-statements
  This RFC proposes adding catch-statements without variables, and fully anonymous catches.
• security improvement for unserialize()
  Add option to ignore all or some objects to unserialize()
• unset(): return bool if the variable has existed
  Add to unset a return value if the deletion was successful
• Integrate voting polls in PHP.net
  This RFC talks about integration of voting polls into PHP.net
• Add toString to DateTime
  A proposal to add toString to DateTime
• Enhanced Error Handling
  This offers a concept and implementation to let the user (php coder) choose between php_error, exception et al while retaining backwards compatibility
• Parameter (and Return) value type hints/checks
  Several RFC that propose to complete the actual parameter type hints/checks (and an implementation for return value type hints).
• Native TLS in ZTS
  Improving performance of ZTS builds by using native thread local storage.
• Better benchmarks for PHP
  A proposal for replacing current bench.php benchmarking script.
• Remove reliance of Zend API
  A proposal to remove the use of the Zend API in PHP libraries.
• PHP Native Interface
  Provide complete alternative to writing libraries interfaces using the Zend API libraries.
• Alternative mbstring implementation using ICU
  A proposal to completely rewrite mbstring extension with ICU.
• Function call chaining
  Function call chaining implementation.
• Errors as Exceptions
  This RFC discusses the conversion of errors to exceptions
• Enum language structure
  A proposal to add the enum language structure
• Instantiating a class and calling methods/accessing properties on same command
  A proposal to add support to instantiating a class and calling its methods or accessing its properties on same command.
• Make T_FUNCTION in method declarations optional.
  A proposal for removing the requirement to use T_FUNCTION in method declarations.
• Property get/set syntax
  This RFC proposes to add a C# style property get/set syntax to PHP classes.
• Proposed modifications to traits
  This RFC proposes three modifications to traits: increasing separation and consistency of inheritance vs. trait composition, adding trait-local scope, and extending use syntax.
• CLI options for strict and quiet modes
  This RFC proposes a -W option to turn on maximum error reporting, and a -Q option for no error reporting.
• Add Logical Shift Operators
  Add logical shift operators for bitwise shifting of strings
• Faster strtod algorithm
  This RFC proposes to add the Grisu3 strtod algorithm as an optional feature to PHP.
• Function autoloading through spl_autoload*
  This RFC introduces a potential implementation for function autoloading which would be consistent with what we have for autoloading classes.
• Clarifying/Improving the prototype checks
  This RFC discusses the current state of prototype checks, and gives some directions for discussion and improvement.
• Introducing Jenkins
  This RFC proposes using Jenkins as a Continuous Ingtegration environment for the php project.
• Make PHP open tag optional for better security
  This RFC proposes option (php.ini and CLI opts) for removing PHP tags (<?php and so forth) from PHP scripts.
• Skipping optional parameters
  Skipping optional parameters in function calls
• array_delete
  This RFC proposes adding array_delete() as an intuitive API for array element deletion.
• Default character encoding
  Default character encoding handling in PHP.
• Escaping RFC for PHP Core
  Implementing a core anti-XSS escaping class and possibly functions for the more procedurally inclined programmers.
• Systemd socket activation
  Systemd socket activation support for PHP-FPM
• Add a deprecated modifier for functions
  Add a deprecated modifier for functions
• Moving to an AST-based parsing/compilation process
  Proposes to improve the current parsing/compilation process by introducing an AST as an intermediary structure

This section is for early drafts of RFCs that have NOT been announced on the PHP “internals” mail list.

• PDO Version 1 Improvements
  This RFC proposes a set of improvements to be made to PDO.
• Siberia
  This RFC proposes to create a cemetery for dead extensions (PECL or core).
• Tainted variables
  This RFC proposes an implementation of variable tainting in PHP.
• Lemon as a language parser
  This RFC discusses the switch from YACC/Bison to lemon for the main language parser
• Static classes
  This RFC proposes the introduction of static classes for PHP
• PECL versioning
  This RFC, about tackling the versioning issues in PECL extensions, has been implemented across PECL for several months. But what should be done about extension versioning in the PHP core?
• Improve consistency of protected member lookups
  This RFC proposes to eliminate an inconsistency in the way protected class members are resolved.
• class casting to scalar
  This RFC proposes a way to do like __toString(), for other scalar types
• Jsonable interface
  Feature request to allow support json_(encode|decode) to handle Object instance conversions.
• Drop sql.safe_mode
  Dropping a php.ini setting affecting two extensions
• Get Random
  This RFC talks about how to get a (better) random string in PHP
• Autoboxing
  Autoboxing feature in PHP
• Error optimizations
  A way to optimize the formatting of our errors
• docBlock Parser
  Proposal to add docBlock parsing to the Reflection extension
• Autodefinition
  This RFC proposes the ability to define missing definitions (generalization of autoload).
• Annotations in doc block
  Class Metadata feature (aka Annotations) support in PHP through DocBlock
• Object and Array Literals
  This RFC proposes first-class, inline object and array literals similar to JSON.
• Weak References
  This RFC proposes the introduction of Weak References in PHP via a new SPL class.
• Line Markers in PHP
  This RFC proposes the introduction of line markers in PHP.
• Who can vote?
  Define the participants of the voting process.
• Autoloader Error Handling
  Request for Comments: Autoloader Error Handling.
• Platform and extension-independent API to the system CSPRNG
  Request for Comments: Platform and extension-independent API to the system CSPRNG.
• Loop+Else control structure
  This RFC proposes an optional “else” clause that can be used after while, for, and foreach loops.
• LDAP: Add ldap_modify_batch
  This RFC proposes adding a lower-level modification function to the LDAP extension.

• Apparmor change_hat functionality for php-fpm
  Proposes to add the possibility to change to a different hat under the apparmor LSM
• Importing namespaced functions
  Proposes to allow importing namespaced functions through a new `use function` sequence.
• Define PHP 5.3 end of life
  The purpose of this RFC is to define when the PHP 5.3 series will no longer be supported.
• APXS LoadModule
  This RFC proposes the addition of an option to the configure script that allows the user to specify whether the main Apache .conf file should be appended with the LoadModule entry.
• DateTime and Daylight Saving Time Transitions
  Defines expected behaviors and new features to improve how DateTime handles Daylight Saving Time transitions.
• Release Process
  PHP release process.
• Voting Process
  PHP voting process.
• Magic Quotes
  This RFC proposes how we deal with magic quotes from PHP 5.3.0 to 6.0.0.
• Choosing a distributed version control system for PHP
  This RFC proposes to migrate the PHP SVN repo to a DVCS.
• PHP Version Control System
  This RFC discusses the switch from CVS to some other version tracking system

Order in these sections: Language changes first, library changes later.

• Internal operator overloading and GMP improvements
  Add support for operator overloading in internal classes and improve GMP using it
• Remove calls from incompatible context
  Calls from incompatible context deprecated in 5.6 (will be removed in next version).
• Dedicated syntax for variadic functions
  This RFC introduces a dedicated syntax for variadic functions.

• Generators
  This RFC proposes adding generators as a simple and boilerplate-free way of defining iterators.
• support finally keyword
  Add try catch finally supporting
• Resolve class names to scalars via class keyword
  A proposal to use ::class after type names to resolve FQ class names as scalar
• foreach_variable supporting T_LIST
  This extends PHP's language parser to support T_LIST in foreach_variable
• Const array/string dereference
  A little improvement to make things consistent
• Allow arbitrary expression arguments to empty() and isset()
  Proposes to allow empty(getArray()) etc.
• Integrating Optimizer+ into the PHP distribution
  This RFC proposes to integrate the Zend Optimizer+ opcode cache into the PHP distribution
• Adding hash_pbkdf2 function
  This RFC proposes adding a hash_pbkdf2 function to the hash package
• Add Simplified Password Hashing
  This RFC proposes adding 3 new functions to the core to expose a much simplified password hashing API.
• Remove preg_replace /e modifier
  This RFC aims at deprecating and subsequently removing the /e modifier (PREG_REPLACE_EVAL) that preg_replace provides.
• Add UConverter
  A proposal to add ICU::UConverter functionality to ext/intl
• ext/mysql deprecation
  Formally deprecating ext/mysql in PHP.
• Cookie Max-Age attribute
  Cookie Max-Age attribute
• Fix cURL file uploading API
  Fix insecure cURL file uploading API
• Add recvmsg() and sendmsg() to ext/sockets
  Wrap sendmsg() and recvmsg(), with support for a limited number of message types
• PHP CLI changing process title support
  Setting PHP CLI process titles for visibility in 'top' or 'ps'
• Allow non-scalar keys in foreach
  This RFC proposes to remove the type restrictions on foreach iteration
• Add array_column() function
  This RFC proposes a new array function that returns the values of the specified column from a multi-dimensional array.
• Removal of curl-wrappers
  This RFC is about removing the curl stream wrappers of the PHP as of 5.5 and to move it on PECL for any eventual improvements.
• Strict Sessions
  This RFC proposes an additional security measure for preventing session fixation.

Note: Many RFCs in this list have been mass voted.

• Traits
  Traits is a mechanism for code reuse in single inheritance languages such as PHP. A Trait is intended to reduce some limitations of single inheritance by enabling a developer to reuse sets of methods freely in several independent classes living in different class hierarchies. This RFC proposes a basic version of Traits.
• Closures: Object Extension
  How to extend closures to work with $this and objects.
• Short syntax for arrays
  This RFC will discuss an language enhancement for simple and easy array definition.
• Function array dereferencing
  You know, like foo()['bar']
• Short tags in templates
  This RFC discusses ways to enable short tags template syntax in a way that would be easy for users and compatible with XML users' requirements.
• Indirect method call by array variable
  $arr = array('Class', 'method'); $arr();
• Supporting Binary Notation for Integers
  This extends PHP's syntax to support binary notation for integers just as it already does for decimal, octal, and hexadecimal representations.
• Built-in web server
  This RFC discusses the web server that is built into PHP itself, for development purpose.
• Removal of deprecated features
  RFC about removing legacy features in the next version of PHP
• Improve parser error messages
  Improve parser error message readability.
• Session upload progress
  Using sessions to provide upload progress feedback to users.
• Object oriented session handlers
  A proposal to allow session_set_save_handler() to accept an object, and expose the original session handler.
• Allow Multiple Simultaneous Syslog Connections
  This RFC propose enhancement to syslog function in order to allow multiple simultaneous connections by using resources.
• Stream meta-data
  RFC defines handler for setting metadata on stream URL.
• Error message formatting for development
  This RFC discusses error message formatting to aid developers.
• Zend Engine Performance Improvements
  Proposes Zend Engine changes which together make up to 20% performance improvement on synthetic benchmarks and some real-life applications
• Run Time Cache
  offers an implementation of run-time caching technique which may improve performance of repeatable code
• Zend Signal Handling
  Improve stability and speed when running under any forking SAPI by adding deferred signal handling to the Zend Engine.
• DTrace Probes for PHP
  Provide DTrace probes for PHP.
• New Output API
  An RFC about the New Output API
• Callable type hint
  Callable type hint

• Closures
  This RFC proposes Closures and lambda functions for PHP.
• Namespace resolution order
• RFC on what namespace separator to choose
• HEREDOC with double quotes
  This RFC is about allowing double quote syntax similar to single-quotes in NOWDOC as a HEREDOC syntax variant (in PHP 5.3)
• LSB parent::/self:: forwarding
  Changes how parent:: and self:: work with LSB by making them forwarding.
• call_time_pass_by_reference
  This RFC proposes that call_time_pass_by_reference be switched off by default in PHP 5.3.
• New error level E_USER_DEPRECATED
  This RFC proposes to introduce a new userspace error level similar to E_DEPRECATED for user level deprecation warnings
• Rounding in PHP
  Make round() produce predictable results on all platforms and fix some problems in the process.
• Alternative to include/require for autoloaders
  This RFC aims to offer an alternative solution to the well known fopen() “hack” used in autoloaders in order to verify the existence of files inside the include path
• FPM SAPI
  This RFC discusses FPM SAPI and its inclusion to the core PHP distribution.
• FPM INI syntax
  This RDV discusses the replacement of FPM configuration file from XML to INI.
• New INI Files
  A proposal for two new INI files which will replace the current INI's packaged with PHP. One focused on production deployments and the other focused on development deployments.
• count_elements handler vs count()
  Internal change to allow some optimization and add consistency.

• Class instances counter
  This RFC proposes a new function returning a list with class names and their instance counter.
• trailing-comma-function-args
  Allow a trailing comma in function calls, similar to array declarations
• Add an array_part() function
  Adds a function to extract multi-dimensional slices
• SplClassLoader
  Merge implementation of first proposal of PHP Standards Recommendation (PSR) into SPL core
• Annotations
  Class Metadata feature (aka Annotations) support in PHP
• ifsetor() Operator
  This RFC proposes an operator that efficiently implements (isset($foo) ? $foo : $bar) as ifsetor($foo, $bar)
• Method overloading
• Non-breakable Traits
  This RFC is a extension to the basic proposal. It includes the notion of trait-local methods and properties.
• Function getEntropy
  Feature request for a new userspace function providing a truly random value.
• Property Accessors Syntax
  RFC for the addition of C#-style get/set accessors to PHP
• Alternative typehinting syntax for accessors
  Proposes an improved typehinting syntax for the accessors proposal.

• Add scalar type hinting with casts
  This RFC proposes adding scalar type hinting with casting to provide more robust parameter hinting.
• Scalar Type Casting Magic Methods
  This RFC proposes a set of new scalar type casting magic methods for classes.
• Function Autoloading
  This RFC proposes to refactor the existing autoloading mechanism to support function and constant autoloading.
• Structural Type Hinting
  This RFC proposes a new type-hint format to allow run-time checking of Structural Types.
• Constant Scalar Expressions
  This RFC proposes adding support for Constant Scalar Expressions.
• Modify tempnam() to handle directories and auto-cleanup
  Add TEMPNAM_DIR and TEMPNAM_REQUEST options to tempnam()
• Parameter Type Casting Hints
  This RFC proposes adding type casting hints to function declarations.
• Magic Quotes in PHP, the Finalé
  A safe, orderly manner for getting rid of Magic Quotes.
• Return value type hint
  Return type hinting
• Comparable
  A proposal to add a Comparable interface for userspace object comparisons.
• Cast and Assign Magic Methods
  Feature request to expose object_cast, get and set to PHP land code via two new magic methods
• Add mysqlnd.localhost_override option
  This RFC proposes to add mysqlnd.localhost_override to more easily override localhost when connecting to a MySQL database.
• Allow use T_AS in closure use statement
  Allow user use a alias name for lexical variable of closure
• strn(case)cmp supporting a negative length as its third paramter
  This extends PHP's string function strn(case)cmp to support a negative length as parameter

This section is for RFCs that have been deferred, obsoleted, or appear to have been abandoned. Sorry if your RFC is added here and you feel it is still active; please move it back to the appropriate section.

• Source files without opening tag
  This RFC proposes a way to support source code files without <?php at the top.
• New File Type for Pure-Code PHP Scripts
  This RFC proposes the creation of a new .phpp file type for scripts that contain only PHP code without a <?php or ?> tag.
• Named Parameters (obsolete)
  Dummy RFC for named parameters, superseded by Named Parameters.