# Source type.c says settype($var, "double") is deprecated

- Thread: https://externals.io/message/34536
- Original archive: https://news-web.php.net/php.internals/34536
- Started by Markus Fischer on 2008-01-06T19:37:40+00:00
- Messages: 5
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## #34536 — Markus Fischer — 2008-01-06T19:37:40+00:00

URL: https://externals.io/message/34536#34536

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Hi,

accidentally I came across `settype()` in ext/standard/type.c which says

~  } else if (!strcasecmp(new_type, "float")) {
~    convert_to_double(*var);
~  } else if (!strcasecmp(new_type, "double")) { /* deprecated */
~    convert_to_double(*var);

This is the context of calling

~  settype($val, "double");

I don't understand the comment, because in `gettype()` there is

~  case IS_DOUBLE:
~    RETVAL_ASCII_STRING("double", 1);
~    break;

There's no possibility that `gettype()` returns "float", so maybe this
comment is just in the wrong line?

All in all a pretty superfluously mail but I thought I bring some
diversification in the type hint debate ;)

- - Markus
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## #34538 — Hannes Magnusson — 2008-01-06T20:04:47+00:00

URL: https://externals.io/message/34536#34538 · In reply to: #34536

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>
> Hi,
>
> accidentally I came across `settype()` in ext/standard/type.c which says
>
> ~  } else if (!strcasecmp(new_type, "float")) {
> ~    convert_to_double(*var);
> ~  } else if (!strcasecmp(new_type, "double")) { /* deprecated */
> ~    convert_to_double(*var);
>
> This is the context of calling
>
> ~  settype($val, "double");
>
> I don't understand the comment, because in `gettype()` there is
>
> ~  case IS_DOUBLE:
> ~    RETVAL_ASCII_STRING("double", 1);
> ~    break;
>
> There's no possibility that `gettype()` returns "float", so maybe this
> comment is just in the wrong line?

No, the comment is correct.

"for historical [read: BC] reasons "double" is returned in case of a
float, and not simply "float""

See http://docs.php.net/settype && http://docs.php.net/gettype

-Hannes

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## #34540 — Markus Fischer — 2008-01-06T20:23:06+00:00

URL: https://externals.io/message/34536#34540 · In reply to: #34538

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Hi,

Hannes Magnusson wrote:
| No, the comment is correct.
|
| "for historical [read: BC] reasons "double" is returned in case of a
| float, and not simply "float""
|
| See http://docs.php.net/settype && http://docs.php.net/gettype

Thanks for the pointers, but I don't quite understand what "deprecate"
now means.

Doing gettype(1.5) returns "double". There's not way that `gettype()`
returns "float".

I don't see the implications of this "deprecation" here. What does it
say? The comment in the sourceis there since around 2002 or so. But
there aren't plans to change the behavior or `gettype()`, are there?

Sorry if I seem nitpicking, I just got more confused after your mail :)

- - Markus
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## #34562 — Hannes Magnusson — 2008-01-06T22:30:48+00:00

URL: https://externals.io/message/34536#34562 · In reply to: #34540

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> Hi,
>
> Hannes Magnusson wrote:
> | No, the comment is correct.
> |
> | "for historical [read: BC] reasons "double" is returned in case of a
> | float, and not simply "float""
> |
> | See http://docs.php.net/settype && http://docs.php.net/gettype
>
> Thanks for the pointers, but I don't quite understand what "deprecate"
> now means.

It means that maybe someday it will be removed. Unlikely? Sure, but
the preferred name is 'float' so why not use it?


> Doing gettype(1.5) returns "double". There's not way that `gettype()`
> returns "float".

Right. Due to historical reasons this functions returns 'double'.
Just like for historical reasons `implode()` can take its argument in
either order.


> I don't see the implications of this "deprecation" here. What does it
> say? The comment in the sourceis there since around 2002 or so. But
> there aren't plans to change the behavior or `gettype()`, are there?

It means that in PHP the type name is 'float' and referred to as
'float' throughout the manual
For convenience you can use "double" (is_double($f), (double)$f,
settype($f, "double")..), just like you can use `is_integer()` instead
of `is_int()`... :)


-Hannes

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## #34563 — Markus Fischer — 2008-01-06T22:50:11+00:00

URL: https://externals.io/message/34536#34563 · In reply to: #34562

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Hi,

Hannes Magnusson wrote:
| It means that in PHP the type name is 'float' and referred to as
| 'float' throughout the manual
| For convenience you can use "double" (is_double($f), (double)$f,
| settype($f, "double")..), just like you can use `is_integer()` instead
| of `is_int()`... :)

Ok, I got it. I think :)

So the manual says only float everywhere but throughout the source the
internal type (the #define) is DOUBLE and `gettype()` is also returns
"double". Basically, the manual says it's deprecated and documents it
different when in fact PHP actually doesn't implement it that way ...
Phew :)

- - Markus
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