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

On 2026-08-18 11:02, Henrik Skov wrote:
> 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,
>> ];
>>>> [...]
 >>
 >> sleep(100);
 >>
 >> var_dump(time()); // -> 1787047284
 >>
 >> fakeSetCookie("testName", "testValue", ...COOKIE_PARAMS); so
 >> expires_or_options become 1787050884

Ah, I think I understand now.

What you're proposing is a structure where you can define a value as an 
expression, and that expression is only evaluated when the structure is 
used (rather than when it's defined).

So, even in a long-lived application, the expires_or_options value would 
always be evaluated as `time() + 3600`

If this were to be implemented, I think it would be better to look at 
values, rather than defining an entire structure. I can see it being 
used for more than parameters.

Something like an IIFE that's invoked when used rather than when defined.


As a side-note, one way to achieve this in current PHP would be to use a 
callable:

```php
$params = function() {
     return [
         "samesite" => "Lax",
         "expires_or_options" => time() + 3600,
         "path" => "/",
         "domain" => "",
         "secure" => false,
         "httponly" => true,
     ];
};

fakeSetCookie("testName", "testValue", ...$params());
sleep(2);
fakeSetCookie("testName", "testValue", ...$params());
```

(3v4l refused to save this, probably because it takes too long)

This can also be written using arrow functions:

```php
$params = fn() => [
     "samesite" => "Lax",
     "expires_or_options" => time() + 3600,
     "path" => "/",
     "domain" => "",
     "secure" => false,
     "httponly" => true,
];
```