[PHP-BUG] Req #79285 [NEW]: Allow unpacking of arrays with string keys into other arrays

From:             caelan89 at gmail dot com
Operating system: n/a
PHP version:      7.4.2
Package:          PHP Language Specification
Bug Type:         Feature/Change Request
Bug description:Allow unpacking of arrays with string keys into other arrays

Description:
------------
You've added in array unpacking inside of arrays.

However, it is a half-baked solution (if you can even call it that), and
relatively useless except for a few use cases.

You do not allow this:

$a1 = [
  'test' => 1
];

$a2 = [
  'test-2' => 2
];

$a3 = [
  ...$a1,
  ...$a2
];

There is absolutely zero reason, other than your inconvenience building
it, as to why this should be forbidden. None at all.

It is semantically equivalent to:

$a3 = array_merge($a1, $a2);

Why on earth should I not be able to do the same with with the much
neater and preferable array unpacking syntax?

Test script:
---------------
$a1 = [
  'test' => 1
];

$a2 = [
  'test-2' => 2
];

$a3 = [
  ...$a1,
  ...$a2
];


-- 
Edit bug report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=79285&edit=1
-- 
Fix committed:                    https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=79285&r=fixed
Fixed in release:                 https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=79285&r=alreadyfixed
Need backtrace:                   https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=79285&r=needtrace
Need Reproduce Script:            https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=79285&r=needscript
Try newer version:                https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=79285&r=oldversion
Not developer issue:              https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=79285&r=support
Expected behavior:                https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=79285&r=notwrong
Not enough info:                  https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=79285&r=notenoughinfo
Submitted twice:                  https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=79285&r=submittedtwice
register_globals:                 https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=79285&r=globals
PHP version support discontinued: https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=79285&r=phptooold
Daylight Savings:                 https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=79285&r=dst
IIS Stability:                    https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=79285&r=isapi
Install GNU Sed:                  https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=79285&r=gnused
Floating point limitations:       https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=79285&r=float
No Zend Extensions:               https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=79285&r=nozend
MySQL Configuration Error:        https://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=79285&r=mysqlcfg