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Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:56:15 -0600
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Subject: Re: [PHP-DEV] [RFC] Pattern Matching
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From: larry@garfieldtech.com ("Larry Garfield")

On Wed, Dec 3, 2025, at 2:21 AM, Alexandru P=C4=83tr=C4=83nescu wrote:
> On Tue, Dec 2, 2025 at 10:09=E2=80=AFPM Larry Garfield <larry@garfield=
tech.com> wrote:
>>=20
>>=20
>> > 1. There are mentions that any type present in a function parameter=20
>> > signature and return value is a valid pattern matching.
>> > But are there any plans to extend the pattern-matching-syntax to=20
>> > parameter types and return values?
>> >
>> > Of course, with some restrictions: without variable pinning.And wit=
hout=20
>> > variable binding on return type, but that could work on parameter t=
ypes.
>> > If that's possible or already planned, I think it's worth mentionin=
g it=20
>> > in the future scope section.
>>=20
>> See the linked "speculative extensions" document.  It's mentioned the=
re, but it hasn't gone beyond "Larry thinks it would be kinda cool to wr=
ite `public int $x is >0`.  That's definitely out of scope for now, but =
I'm very open to discussing it in the future.
>> =20
>
> That is not exactly what I meant.
> Since all types are valid patterns, can't we enlarge the type set to=20
> include more things from the pattern set? in future RFCs.
> Something like this: `function process(Point(x: 3|4, y: $y) $p): ['a'=20
> =3D> int, 'b' =3D> float & >0]`.
>
> --=20
> Alex

Yes, that's also in speculative extensions, under the "Parameter or retu=
rn guards" section. :-)

I think it would be cool (especially if combined with Rob's type aliases=
), but that's out of scope for now.

--Larry Garfield