Regression: count()/array_merge()/array_keys()/in_array() null TypeError under PROFILE=8.4 — Zend DEP+coerce (ext/standard) #21771

Category

Regression · php-src-strict · PHP 8.4 implicit-null deprecations (batch peer #21612 / #21614)

Problem

Under PHP_COMPILER_PROFILE=8.4, several array/iter builtins still throw TypeError on null arguments where php-src 8.4 emits a deprecation and continues with the legacy coerced result (same pattern as array_fill(null) on #21612).

(Verify exact return values against php-src 8.4 when implementing; table reflects the standard 8.4 null-to-internal-parameter deprecation ladder.)

php-src reference

• php/php-src ext/standard/array.c — php_array_merge, php_array_keys, php_array_flip, …
• php/php-src Zend/zend_API.c — PHP 8.4 ZEND_ARG_INFO null-deprecation path shared by internal functions
• php/php-src ext/standard/basic_functions.c — count / iterator helpers

PHP implementation target

• Reuse shared PROFILE=8.4 null deprecation guards (VmString::coerceStringBuiltinArg pattern for arrays: central helper in lib/ or ext/standard/) instead of per-function TypeError
• ext/standard/ PHP builtins + JIT stubs must agree

Repro

./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'source script/php-env.sh && PHP_COMPILER_PROFILE=8.4 php bin/vm.php -r "
foreach ([\"count\", \"array_merge\", \"array_keys\"] as \$f) {
  try { \$f(null); echo \"\$f ok\\n\"; } catch (Throwable \$e) { echo \"\$f \".get_class(\$e).\"\\n\"; }
}"'

Done when

• Each listed builtin: deprecation + Zend-matching result on VM/JIT under PROFILE=8.4
• Compliance guards under test/compliance/cases/array/ (or split child issues if preferred)
• php-src-strict; no php-compiler-strict shortcut