Language: Attributes (#[...]) syntax + runtime metadata + ReflectionAttribute parity

[PurHur]

Category

language (umbrella — split work across linked issues)

Status (2026-06-03 audit)

Partial landing. Attributes parse/compile on classes/methods/properties; VM reflection read paths exist for some targets. Remaining gaps are tracked as child issues — do not implement the full umbrella in one PR.

Gap	Issue
Builtin Attribute class + class_exists('Attribute')	#5142
#[\DelayedTargetValidation] (PHP 8.4)	#5124
#[AllowDynamicProperties] on parameter → compile error	#5137
ReflectionProperty property attrs/types	#4384
Built-in #[\SensitiveParameter] on ReflectionParameter::getAttributes()	#5152
ReflectionAttribute::newInstance()	#3206 (closed — reopen if regressed)
JIT/AOT attribute metadata tables	#2467 (closed — verify native binaries)

Problem

Frameworks need end-to-end attribute parity: parse, store metadata, reflect, and (PHP 8.4+) validate targets. This umbrella coordinates child issues toward Zend behavior.

php-src reference

• php/php-src Zend/zend_compile.c — attribute groups on declarations
• php/php-src Zend/zend_attributes.c — storage, validation, zend_register_attribute_ce
• php/php-src ext/reflection/php_reflection.c — ReflectionAttribute, getAttributes()

Repro (integration — pick a failing child)

<?php
#[Attribute]
class DemoAttr {
    public function __construct(public string $x) {}
}

#[DemoAttr('ok')]
function f(#[DemoAttr('p')] int $a) {}

echo (int) class_exists('Attribute'), "\n";
$r = new ReflectionFunction('f');
echo count($r->getAttributes()), "\n";
$paramAttrs = $r->getParameters()[0]->getAttributes();
echo count($paramAttrs), "\n";

./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'source script/php-env.sh
php repro.php
php bin/vm.php repro.php
'

Check	Zend	vm.php (typical today)
class_exists('Attribute')	1	0 → #5142
function getAttributes() count	1	may work
parameter getAttributes() count	1	may work

Scope (umbrella — do not duplicate child PRs)

• lib/Compiler.php — attribute metadata attachment
• lib/VM/BuiltinClasses.php — internal attribute classes
• lib/VM/Reflection*.php — read paths
• lib/JIT.php / lib/AOT/ — native metadata (Language: PHP 8 attributes reflection JIT/AOT (phase 2, post-#1354 VM) #2467 area)

Done when (umbrella closes)

• All child issues in the table above are closed or explicitly deferred with compliance coverage
• Integration repro matches Zend on VM
• php script/capability-syntax.php documents JIT/AOT attribute reflection state

North star

#1492 self-host — attribute metadata must survive in native binaries without Zend.

Worker guidance

Claim a child issue, not this umbrella, unless coordinating metadata schema shared by multiple targets.

[PurHur]

Implementation-ready spec refresh (2026-06-03)

Partial landing (do not close this issue yet): docs/capabilities-syntax.md documents class/method attribute read paths via #1936 — getAttributes() count, ReflectionAttribute::getName(), compile-time ctor args on VM. Still open on this issue:

Surface	Zend reference	Gap today
Parameter #[...]	zend_compile.c param attributes	repro_attributes.php param newInstance()
Property #[...]	zend_attributes.c	ReflectionProperty attributes (#4384)
ReflectionAttribute::newInstance() JIT/AOT	ext/reflection/php_reflection.c	#4598
Attribute targets / IS_REPEATABLE / compile-time validation	zend_attributes.c	Not audited
Parse unknown attribute classes	zend_compile.c	May fatal vs Zend recoverable errors

Done when (unchanged + measurable)

• repro_attributes.php output matches Zend on VM (bin/vm.php):

  1
  DemoAttr
  ok
  p
  

• ReflectionParameter::getAttributes() + newInstance() on promoted/param attrs
• Compliance: test/compliance/cases/language/attributes_*.phpt pack green under ci-fast
• Matrix row in script/capability-syntax.php updated when parameter/property attrs land

Verify

./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'source script/php-env.sh
php repro_attributes.php
php bin/vm.php repro_attributes.php 2>&1
vendor/bin/phpunit --filter Attribute 2>/dev/null || vendor/bin/phpunit --filter ReflectionAttribute
'

Worker note: coordinate with #4384 / #4385 / #4598 — claim only the slice you implement; link PR to this umbrella if touching shared reflection tables.

[PurHur]

claim: worker-lane-a — starting this run (#[\Deprecated] runtime notice gating: bare attribute metadata-only; deprecated_attribute.phpt display_errors parity)

[PurHur]

Merged #7629 — slice of #4392.

Change: bare #[\Deprecated] (no message/since) no longer emits E_USER_DEPRECATED at runtime; reflection metadata unchanged. deprecated_attribute.phpt sets display_errors=0 for error_get_last() probes.

Verification:

./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'source script/php-env.sh
vendor/bin/phpunit test/unit/DeprecatedAttributeTest.php
vendor/bin/phpunit test/compliance/VMTest.php --filter "attribute_method|deprecated_attribute"
'

6/6 unit + 2/2 compliance green.

Still open on #4392: parameter/property ReflectionAttribute::newInstance(), attribute targets/IS_REPEATABLE audit — track #4384/#4385.