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Subject: [PHP-DEV] coerce() function
Message-ID: <462A7CF0-71A6-4BFA-B5FE-CDF3E0CCA5E6@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2025 11:42:27 +0400
To: PHP internals <internals@lists.php.net>
From: xepozzd@gmail.com (Dmitry Derepko)


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Hello,=20

=46rom time to time I need to write a few lines of code that usually =
look ridiculous:

$var =3D $input =3D=3D=3D =E2=80=98yes=E2=80=99 ? =E2=80=98yes=E2=80=99 =
: =E2=80=99no=E2=80=99
$var =3D $input !=3D=3D =E2=80=98yes=E2=80=99 ? =E2=80=99no=E2=80=99 : =
$yes
$var =3D $input > 10 ? 10 : $input
$var =3D max(-10, min($input, 10)

and many other variations.
In Kotlin, I can use `coerceIn()` extension function with strings / =
numbers / comparables, which allows me to write such lines more =
readable.=20

I suggest to add such function to PHP. The examples above may look like =
the following

$var =3D coerce($input, variants: [=E2=80=9Cyes=E2=80=9D, =E2=80=9Cno=E2=80=
=9D], default: =E2=80=9Cyes=E2=80=9D);
$var =3D coerce($input, min: 0, max: 10, default: 5);
$var =3D coerce($input, min: 0, max: 10, default: 5);

For sure, that could be different functions not to introduce another =
overloading function. Or range arguments could be replaced with =
`range(0, 10)` function.

This letter is an intent to start discussion of any possible ways of =
developing this idea.
If we agree that the function has enough value to be bundled I=E2=80=99ll =
create RFC to push the idea further.

So what do you think?

----------

Best regards,
Dmitrii Derepko.
@xepozz


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<html><head><meta http-equiv=3D"content-type" content=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Dutf-8"></head><body style=3D"overflow-wrap: break-word; =
-webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: =
after-white-space;">Hello,&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>=46rom time to time =
I need to write a few lines of code that usually look =
ridiculous:</div><div><br></div><div>$var =3D $input =3D=3D=3D =E2=80=98ye=
s=E2=80=99 ? =E2=80=98yes=E2=80=99 : =E2=80=99no=E2=80=99</div><div>$var =
=3D $input !=3D=3D =E2=80=98yes=E2=80=99 ? =E2=80=99no=E2=80=99 : =
$yes</div><div>$var =3D $input &gt; 10 ? 10 : $input</div><div>$var =3D =
max(-10, min($input, 10)</div><div><br></div><div>and many other =
variations.</div><div>In Kotlin, I can use `coerceIn()` extension =
function with strings / numbers / comparables, which allows me to write =
such lines more readable.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I suggest to =
add such function to PHP. The examples above may look like the =
following</div><div><br></div><div><div>$var =3D coerce($input, =
variants: [=E2=80=9Cyes=E2=80=9D, =E2=80=9Cno=E2=80=9D], default: =
=E2=80=9Cyes=E2=80=9D);</div><div>$var =3D coerce($input, min: 0, max: =
10, default: 5);</div></div><div>$var =3D coerce($input, min: 0, max: =
10, default: 5);</div><div><br></div><div>For sure, that could be =
different functions not to introduce another overloading function. Or =
range arguments could be replaced with `range(0, 10)` =
function.</div><div><br></div><div>This letter is an intent to start =
discussion of any possible ways of developing this idea.</div><div>If we =
agree that the function has enough value to be bundled I=E2=80=99ll =
create RFC to push the idea further.</div><div><div>
<div dir=3D"auto" style=3D"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, =
0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; =
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; =
-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; overflow-wrap: =
break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: =
after-white-space;"><div><br></div><div>So what do you =
think?</div><div><br>----------<br><br>Best regards,<br>Dmitrii =
Derepko.<br>@xepozz<br></div></div>

</div>

<br></div></body></html>=

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