Re: [PHP-DEV] [RFC] array_search_range() function

On Mon, Aug 17, 2026, at 4:46 AM, سپهر محمودی wrote:
> Hello internals,
>
> I'd like to open discussion on a new RFC proposing the 
> `array_search_range()` function.
>
> This function extends `array_search()` by allowing the search to be 
> restricted to a specific range of the array, using an `$offset` and 
> `$length` parameter — similar in spirit to how `array_slice()` works.
>
> RFC: https://wiki.php.net/rfc/array_search_range
> Implementation: https://github.com/php/php-src/pull/23325
>
> Proposed signature:
>
>     function array_search_range(mixed $needle, array $haystack, int 
> $offset = 0, ?int $length = null, bool $strict = false): int|false
>
> The main motivation is to avoid the overhead of slicing a large array 
> just to search within a known sub-range, which is a common pattern when 
> working with pagination or windowed processing.
>
> Example:
>
>     $arr = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e'];
>     var_dump(array_search_range('c', $arr, 1, 3)); // 2
>     var_dump(array_search_range('a', $arr, 3, 3)); // false
>
> The RFC is now Under Discussion. I welcome your feedback, questions, 
> and suggestions.
>
> Best regards,
> Sepehr

I agree with Rowan's comments in the previous thread.  I'd rather see an efficient array-range syntax first, then array_search() will "just work" in this way.  I don't see it as a common enough use case that it is worth its own dedicated special function.

--Larry Garfield