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

On 18/08/2026 12.52, AllenJB wrote:
> 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,
> ];
> ```
-- 

Yes, but I think one should consider params COOKIE_PARAMS {...} more of 
a type !



Med venlig hilsen

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