Re: [PHP-DEV] [Pre-RFC] Idea: named parameter lists

Hi again !
The important part is that any instantiations and function calls are 
evaluated at call-time and not compile time !

So time() would return the timestamp at time of call and not when 
compiler first encounters the COOKIE_PARAMS const array. The new params 
keyword would make this clear to the compiler

/Henrik

On 18/08/2026 11.43, Henrik Skov wrote:
>
> Thanks for the feedback.
>
> Problem with your re-written example is that it works with/depends on 
> global variables...
>
> I was the code below actually worked:
>
> <?php
> const COOKIE_PARAMS = [
>     "samesite"                 => "Lax",
>     "expires_or_options"     => time() + 3600,     // Let's say time 
> is 1787047184
>     "path"                     => "/",
>     "domain"                 => "",
>     "secure"                 => false,
>     "httponly"                 => true,
> ];
>
> function fakeSetCookie(
>     string $name,
>     string $value = "",
>     int $expires_or_options = 0,
>     string $path = "",
>     string $domain = "",
>     bool $secure = false,
>     bool $httponly = false,
>     string $samesite = "Strict",
> ) {
>     var_dump([
>         "name" => $name,
>         "value" => $value,
>         "expires_or_options" => $expires_or_options,
>         "path" => $path,
>         "domain" => $domain,
>         "secure" => $secure,
>         "httponly" => $httponly,
>         "samesite" => $samesite,
>     ]);
> }
>
> sleep(100);
>
var_dump(time()); // -> 1787047284
>
> fakeSetCookie("testName", "testValue", ...COOKIE_PARAMS); so 
> expires_or_options become 1787050884
>
> But sadly, it does not work:
>
> Fatal error: Constant expression contains invalid operations in 
> /tmp/x.php on line 2
>
> /Henrik
>
> On 18/08/2026 11.34, AllenJB wrote:
>> On 2026-08-18 10:12, Henrik Skov wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi list !
>>>
>>> Just got an idea:
>>>
>>> params COOKIE_PARAMS {
>>>     time() + 3600,      // Duration - NOTE: any expression is 
>>> allowed here except pure variables
>>>     '/',                          // Path
>>>     '',                            // Can't remember what this is...
>>>     (! IS_DEV),            // secure — set true once served over 
>>> HTTPS (production)
>>>     TRUE,                    // httpOnly
>>>     'Lax',                     // Lax|Strict
>>> }
>>>
>>> Instead of this: (I am using Swoole)
>>>
>>>         $response->cookie(
>>>             self::COOKIE_NAME,
>>>             $token,
>>>             time() + 3600,
>>>             '/',
>>>             '',
>>>             (! IS_DEV),     // secure — set true once served over HTTPS
>>>             TRUE,           // httpOnly
>>>             'Lax',
>>>         );
>>>
>>> we could do:
>>>
>>>         $response->cookie(
>>>             self::COOKIE_NAME,
>>>             $token,
>>>             :::COOKIE_PARAMS
>>>         );
>>>
>>> I know it is kind of similar to the spread operator but not quite.
>>>
>>> What do you guys think ?Email:
>>>
>>
>> PHP already has named parameters[0], and this can be combined with 
>> array unpacking[1] to produce basically the same as you're requesting 
>> here: https://3v4l.org/kD27a#v
>>
>> (Note: I've purposely moved the samesite parameter to prove the named 
>> array keys are mapping to the named function parameters, and not just 
>> working because they happen to be in order)
>>
>> [0] 
>> https://www.php.net/manual/en/functions.arguments.php#functions.named-arguments
>> [1] 
>> https://www.php.net/manual/en/language.types.array.php#language.types.array.unpacking
>>
> -- 
>
>
>
> Med venlig hilsen
>
> Henrik Skov
> /HSK Consulting/
> Blegdamsvej 128B, 4
> DK-2100 Copenhagen O
> Tel.: +45 27 62 83 01
> Email: [email protected]
-- 



Med venlig hilsen

Henrik Skov
/HSK Consulting/
Blegdamsvej 128B, 4
DK-2100 Copenhagen O
Tel.: +45 27 62 83 01
Email: [email protected]