Regression: str_contains()/str_starts_with()/str_ends_with() — Stringable haystack TypeError, Zend __toString coerce (re-#11398, ext/standard/string.c) #15069

Category

stdlib · php-src-strict · regression (closed #11398 / #14660 flip-flop)

Problem

For str_contains(), str_starts_with(), and str_ends_with(), Zend coerces Stringable object operands via __toString() when the declaring unit does not use declare(strict_types=1). VM throws TypeError on the haystack/needle object.

Non-Stringable objects must still TypeError (Zend parity).

php-src reference

• php/php-src ext/standard/string.c — php_str_contains, php_str_starts_with, php_str_ends_with, zend_parse_arg_str coercion path

PHP implementation target

• ext/standard/str_contains.php, str_starts_with.php, str_ends_with.php
• Reuse VmString::coerceStringBuiltinArg / JitStringBuiltinArg (same family as Stdlib: str_contains()/str_starts_with()/str_ends_with() — __toString objects must coerce without strict_types (ext/standard/string.c) #11398, Regression: str_replace()/str_ireplace() — Stringable subject rejected, Zend coerces via __toString (ext/standard/string.c) #14662 for str_replace)

Repro (verified 2026-07-02)

./script/docker-exec.sh -- php bin/vm.php test/repro/maintainer_gap_str_contains_object_stringable.php
# TypeError: str_contains(): Argument #1 ($haystack) must be of type string, C given

./script/docker-exec.sh -- php test/repro/maintainer_gap_str_contains_object_stringable.php
# true
# true
# true

Done when

• Stringable objects coerce to string for all three builtins (weak units)
• declare(strict_types=1) still TypeErrors on object operands
• Non-Stringable objects still TypeError
• Compliance guard under test/compliance/cases/stdlib/