On Thursday, 9 May 2024 at 15:17, Jorg Sowa <jorg.s...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I don't think there are any other "functions" like this. > What about list(), isset(), print(), echo(), require(), include(), unset(), > empty()? We use them the same way as functions, but those are not real > functions. > Kind regards, > Jorg list() (and array()) may look like functions but do not behave like one as they affect the current scope by setting various variables. isset()/empty()/unset() require to work with undefined variables and have deeply ingrained behaviour within the engine, so making them simple functions is not as much of a "trivial" change. print, echo, include(_once) and require(_once) do not mandate their "argument" to be passed within parenthethis, so making them functions does not simplify the lexer/parser nor removes them as keywords. Also I don't know the last time I've used those language constructs "like a function". Hope this clarifies things. Best regards, Gina P. Banyard
