Language: var_export(require_once) after once returns int not true (re-#21938, Zend/zend_execute.c)

[PurHur]

Category

bug · php-src-strict · language · require_once / include_once already-loaded return

Problem

After a file has been require_once/include_once’d, Zend returns boolean true for a subsequent once-include. Passing that expression directly into var_export(...) (or similar) under the VM yields a pid-like int instead of true. Storing the second once-include in a temporary first matches Zend.

Distinct from bare require_once as a statement / $x = require_once (those already match). Sibling of #25851 (var_export(include, true) two-arg remap).

Probed 2026-07-31 @ 3aa069e85 — Zend 8.2.32 vs php bin/vm.php.

Repro	Zend 8.2.32	VM (2026-07-31)
require_once $path; var_export(require_once $path); (return 42 file)	true	pid-like int
$a=require_once $path; $b=require_once $path; var_export($b)	true	true ✓
First require_once expression value	42	42 ✓

php-src reference

• php/php-src Zend/zend_execute.c — once-include already-loaded returns true
• php/php-src Zend/zend_compile.c — ZEND_INCLUDE_OR_EVAL

PHP implementation target

• Ensure already-loaded *_once produces a real boolean true temp when used as a call argument (not a stolen prior getmypid/path temp)
• lib/ compile + VM include path; PHP-in-PHP only

Repro

./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'cat > /tmp/ve_require_once.php <<'"'"'PHP'"'"'
<?php
$path = sys_get_temp_dir() . "/ro_" . getmypid() . ".php";
file_put_contents($path, "<?php return 42;\n");
require_once $path;
echo var_export(require_once $path, true), "\n";
$a = require_once $path;
$b = require_once $path;
echo var_export($a, true), "|", var_export($b, true), "\n";
@unlink($path);
PHP
php /tmp/ve_require_once.php
php bin/vm.php /tmp/ve_require_once.php'

Done when

• var_export(require_once \$path) / var_export(include_once \$path) after first load prints true
• Assignment form still green; first-load return value unchanged
• Compliance .phpt under test/compliance/cases/language/
• php-src-strict; no php-compiler-strict shortcut

[PurHur]

claim: lane-B implementer — starting this run

Gate snapshot before work:

• docker info: ok
• bootstrap-inventory --check: EXIT 0 (doc drift note only)
• release-readiness --json: in flight
• No open PR / prior claim on this issue

[PurHur]

Merged #25864

Verification

• Issue repro (Zend + php bin/vm.php): both print true / true|true with getmypid() in the temp path (the previous steal case).
• ./script/phpunit.sh --filter 'IncludeRequireVMTest|require_once_var_export_already_loaded|include_require_expr_return' → OK (5 tests).
• Gate snapshot before claim: user_release_ready: yes; inventory/spine/north-star5-fast ok (gen-0 seed stale — known).