On 5-10-2026 23:22, Juliette Reinders Folmer wrote:
On 25-9-2026 13:32, Juliette Reinders Folmer wrote:
All,
The `b` string prefix and the `(binary)` cast were both introduced in
PHP 5.2.1 for forward compatibility with PHP 6.
In 2016, there was an RFC [1] targeting PHP 7.x to deprecate both,
which was declined.
Since then, the `(binary)` type cast has now been deprecated in PHP
8.5.0 [2], but as far as I can see, the `b`-prefix for strings is
still supported.
I can't remember ever coming across this in the wild, so I wonder if
it might be a good idea to deprecate the `b`-prefix now as well.
I'll happily create an RFC for this if the you all think it's a good
idea.
Opinions ?
Smile,
Juliette
1: https://wiki.php.net/rfc/binary_string_deprecation
2:
https://wiki.php.net/rfc/deprecations_php_8_5#deprecate_non-standard_cast_names
Just in case you missed it in the avalanche of proposals being
discussed on the list at this moment.
So far, this suggestion has had one response, which is not enough to
make it worth the effort for me to write an RFC and find someone to
collaborate with for the C-code.
Unless there are more people who respond to indicate interest in this
proposal, I will not pursue it.
Smile,
Juliette
Thanks to the people who have responded and to Daniel for offering to
handle the C-code changes. I will write up the proposal properly and do
an impact analysis and will add this to the PHP 8.7 bulk deprecations
RFC in the near future.
Have a good weekend!
Smile,
Juliette
