Repository navigation
Regression: sprintf()/vsprintf(null) still coerce under PROFILE=8.4 (ext/standard/formatted_print.c) #20167
Description
Category
stdlib · php-src-strict · PHP 8.4 null→TypeError · ext/standard
Problem
Under PHP_COMPILER_PROFILE=8.4, sprintf('%s', null) and vsprintf('%s', [null]) still coerce null to '' and succeed. php-src 8.4 rejects null for typed string zpp value arguments with TypeError.
Repro (PROFILE=8.4) |
php-src 8.4 | VM (2026-07-17) |
|---|---|---|
sprintf('%s', null) |
TypeError |
'' |
vsprintf('%s', [null]) |
TypeError |
'' |
Open #8777 covers enum case operands for sprintf/printf/vsprintf — this issue is specifically null under the 8.4 forward profile.
php-src reference
- php/php-src
ext/standard/formatted_print.c—php_formatted_print/Z_PARAM_VARIADICstring conversion for%s - PHP 8.4: null to non-nullable internal string args → TypeError
PHP implementation target
ext/standard/sprintf.php/vsprintf.php(or shared formatted-print helper inext/standard/)- Shared null guard used by other 8.4 string builtins (
VmString::coerceZparamStrBuiltinArgfamily) when formatting consumes a string slot — PHP-in-PHP only, no new C
Repro
./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'cat > /tmp/sprintf_null84.php <<'"'"'PHP'"'"'
<?php
foreach (["sprintf" => fn() => sprintf("%s", null), "vsprintf" => fn() => vsprintf("%s", [null])] as $n => $fn) {
try { $r = $fn(); echo "$n COERCED ", var_export($r, true), "\n"; }
catch (Throwable $e) { echo "$n ", get_class($e), "\n"; }
}
PHP
PHP_COMPILER_PROFILE=8.4 php bin/vm.php /tmp/sprintf_null84.php'Expected: both TypeError. Today: COERCED ''.
Done when
-
sprintf('%s', null)/vsprintf('%s', [null])throwTypeErrorunderPHP_COMPILER_PROFILE=8.4on VM - JIT/AOT agree when in scope
- Compliance
.phptundertest/compliance/cases/string/orstdlib/ - Default/8.2 profile still coerces like Zend 8.2
- php-src-strict; no php-compiler-strict shortcut
Activity
PurHur commentedon Jul 18, 2026
claim: PHP Compiler STD Lib — starting this run
Trust probe (this workspace):
docker infoOK; vendor presentphp script/bootstrap-inventory.php --check— red: staledocs/bootstrap-inventory.md(ext/dom/VmDom.php method count 402→404; doc drift from recent DOM merges, not this issue)./script/release-readiness.sh --json— runningImplementing sprintf/vsprintf null→TypeError under PROFILE=8.4 (php-src-strict).
PurHur commentedon Jul 18, 2026
Abandoning claim — php-src-strict mismatch on done-when
Repro under Zend PHP 8.2.31 and this compiler (
PHP_COMPILER_PROFILE=8.4):sprintf('%s', null)/vsprintf('%s', [null])→ coerce to''(no TypeError)sprintf(null)→ deprecate + coerce (Z_PARAM_STR), not value-arg TypeErrorphp-src / null_coercion_consistency RFC explicitly keeps
sprintf('%s', NULL)coercing; value slots are notZ_PARAM_STR. Implementing TypeError here would diverge from Zend.Leaving open for maintainer retarget (e.g. format-arg 8.4 TypeError if that is the intent) or close as invalid.
PurHur commentedon Jul 21, 2026
Closing as invalid per prior investigation: php-src 8.4 does not throw
TypeErrorforsprintf('%s', null)orvsprintf('%s', [null]). The variadic...$valuesparameter usesZ_PARAM_VARIADIC('+', ...)(mixed), notZ_PARAM_STR. The%sconversion callszval_get_string()which coerces null to""— no deprecation, no TypeError.The null→TypeError deprecation path applies only to parameters declared with
Z_PARAM_STR(typed string params), e.g. the format argument itself — which is already handled byVmString::stringBuiltinArgForFrame().Current VM behavior (
sprintf('%s', null)→'') matches Zend 8.2 and 8.4.