Edit report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=64194&edit=1
ID: 64194 Comment by: kevin dot swinton at gmail dot com Reported by: marius at kitara dot nl Summary: Null variable doesn't give error when trying to use as array Status: Open Type: Bug Package: Arrays related Operating System: FreeBSD 9.1 PHP Version: 5.4.11 Block user comment: N Private report: N New Comment: Without diving into the internals at this point: $data is initially declared as a variable of type NULL. In the first echo statement, the attempt to reference an index of 'wok' in $data is effectively ignored: the variable is not an ARRAY to begin with. $data is then cast into a variable of type ARRAY ("$data['test'] = 'test';") In the second echo statement, $data is an array, with an index, which PHP can enumerate against and ultimately determine that index 'wok' is not present. Hence the first echo results in a NULL output, whilst the second results in PHP issuing an E_NOTICE. I'd submit this issue is not related to the PHP core. Previous Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2013-02-12 10:50:42] marius at kitara dot nl Description: ------------ When you define a string as null value you won't get any undefined errors. As soon you define a value in that same string you will see undefined errors. Test script: --------------- <?php ini_set('display_errors', 1); error_reporting(E_ALL | E_STRICT); $data = null; echo $data['wok']; // Remains silent $data['test'] = 'test'; echo $data['wok']; // Gives an undefined error Expected result: ---------------- Both echo lines should give an undefined error. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Edit this bug report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=64194&edit=1