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Language: array spread of non-traversable string — Fatal error not TypeError (zend_execute.c) #4812

Closed
#6285
Closed
Language: array spread of non-traversable string — Fatal error not TypeError (zend_execute.c)#4812
#6285
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area:compilerCompiler / CFG / JITarea:vmVirtual machineenhancementNew feature or requestimplementation-readySpec complete: repro, php-src ref, done-when — safe for workers to claimphase-2:languagePhase 2 – language features

Description

@PurHur
PurHur
opened on Jun 3, 2026

Category

language

Problem

Spreading a non-array, non-Traversable value in an array literal (e.g. ...'ab') must raise a Zend Error Fatal: Only arrays and Traversables can be unpacked. This build throws TypeError with a similar message — wrong exception class and not catchable the same way as Zend.

php-src reference

Repro

test/tmp/repro-array-spread-string-fatal.php:

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);
try {
    var_export([...[1, 2], ...'ab']);
} catch (Throwable $e) {
    echo get_class($e), ': ', $e->getMessage(), PHP_EOL;
}
./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'php test/tmp/repro-array-spread-string-fatal.php; php bin/vm.php test/tmp/repro-array-spread-string-fatal.php'
Zend This compiler
Severity Fatal Error (uncaught in try) TypeError caught in try
Message Only arrays and Traversables can be unpacked Only arrays and Traversables can be unpacked

Scope

Module Path
VM array spread / unpack validation
Tests compliance case

Done when

  • Repro is fatal on VM (not catchable TypeError), matching Zend
  • Message matches php-src

Related

Activity

  1. PurHur
    added
    enhancementNew feature or request
    phase-2:languagePhase 2 – language features
    area:compilerCompiler / CFG / JIT
    area:vmVirtual machine
    implementation-readySpec complete: repro, php-src ref, done-when — safe for workers to claim
    on Jun 3, 2026

  2. PurHur commented on Jun 5, 2026

    @PurHur
    PurHur
    on Jun 5, 2026
    OwnerAuthor

    claim: worker-lane-a — starting this run

  3. PurHur
    closed this as completedin #6285on Jun 5, 2026
  4. PurHur
    added a commit that references this issue on Jun 5, 2026

    Fix array literal spread to raise uncatchable fatal Error (#4812) (#6285

    6b86fb4

  5. PurHur commented on Jun 5, 2026

    @PurHur
    PurHur
    on Jun 5, 2026
    OwnerAuthor

    Merged via #6285.

    Fix: Array-literal spread of non-array/non-Traversable operands now raises uncatchable fatal Error (LogicException → exit 255), matching Zend — not catchable TypeError.

    Verification:

    ./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'source script/php-env.sh
php bin/vm.php test/tmp/repro-array-spread-string-fatal.php; echo exit:$?
vendor/bin/phpunit test/compliance/VMTest.php --filter "array_spread_non_traversable_fatal|array_literal_unpack_spread"
'

    → Fatal error: Only arrays and Traversables can be unpacked in … on line 4, exit 255, OK (2 tests).

  6. PurHur
    added a commit that references this issue on Jun 7, 2026

    Fix array spread traversable compliance tests for #4686. (#7565)

    3339a37

  7. PurHur commented on Jul 30, 2026

    @PurHur
    PurHur
    on Jul 30, 2026
    OwnerAuthor

    Cleanup: deleting leftover test/tmp/ scratch repro for this closed issue — same coverage lives under test/compliance/cases/ (see PR chore/cleanup-stale-test-tmp-repros).

  8. PurHur commented on Jul 30, 2026

    @PurHur
    PurHur
    on Jul 30, 2026
    OwnerAuthor

    Cleanup follow-up: merged #25413 — test/tmp scratch repro removed.

  9. PurHur
    added a commit that references this issue on Jul 30, 2026

    Chore: drop stale test/tmp repros superseded by compliance (#4812/#4810/

    b157fed
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