PHP 8.3: New Features, Deprecations, and More

New Additions to PHP 8.3

1. Typed Class Constants

PHP 8.3 introduces a significant enhancement in the form of typed class constants. With this addition, developers can now declare types for class constants, ensuring type compatibility and reducing the likelihood of unintended deviations from the initial declaration. This enhancement extends to interface, trait, and enum constants as well.

interface ConstTest {
    const string VERSION = "PHP 8.3";
}

// Illegal:
interface ConstTest {
    const float VERSION = "PHP 8.3";
}

Typed class constants prove valuable in maintaining type consistency when working with child classes derived from base declarations, preventing accidental changes to the type that may lead to compatibility issues.

2. json_validate() Function

Prior to PHP 8.3, determining the syntactic validity of a JSON-encoded string involved using json_decode() and checking for errors.

The new json_validate() function simplifies this process by validating the JSON syntax without the need to construct associative arrays or objects, thereby conserving memory.

php

if (json_validate($maybeJSON)) {
    // Do something with $maybeJSON   
}

This function is particularly useful for validating JSON payloads before storage or delivery in a request-response.

3. Dynamic Class Constant and Enum Number Fetch Support

In PHP 8.3, fetching class constants and enum members with variable names becomes more straightforward. The cumbersome use of the constant() function is replaced with a more intuitive syntax, enhancing code readability.

php

$constantName = 'THE_CONST';
$memberName = 'FirstMember';

echo MyClass::{$constantName};
echo MyEnum::{$memberName}->value;

This improvement simplifies the process of accessing class constants and enum members dynamically.

4. gc_status() Now Returns Additional Information

The gc_status() function, responsible for providing garbage collector statistics, receives an upgrade in PHP 8.3. The function now returns additional information, including details about the running status, protection status, buffer size, and more.

php

$gcStatus = gc_status();
echo "Running: " . $gcStatus['Running'];
echo "Memory usage before collection: ".$gcStatus['memoryUsageBefore'];
echo "Memory usage after collection: " .$gcStatus['memoryUsageAfter'];

This enhancement provides developers with a more comprehensive view of the garbage collector’s behavior.

5. New \Random\Randomizer::getBytesFromString Method

PHP 8.3 introduces the getBytesFromString method in the \Random\Randomizer class, enabling the generation of random sequences based on a specified string of characters. This method proves useful for generating secure random bytes from a predefined set of characters.

php

$rng = new Random\Randomizer();
$alpha = 'ABCDEFGHJKMNPQRSTVWXYZ';

$rng->getBytesFromString($alpha, 6); // "MBXGWL"
$rng->getBytesFromString($alpha, 6); // "LESPMG"
$rng->getBytesFromString($alpha, 6); // "NVHWXC"

This method adds flexibility to random data generation by allowing developers to specify the source material for random byte selection.

6. New \Random\Randomizer::getFloat() and nextFloat() Methods

Expanding on the Random extension, PHP 8.3 introduces two new methods for generating random float values: getFloat() and nextFloat(). These methods enhance the precision and control over the generation of random floating-point numbers.

php

$rng = new Random\Randomizer();

// Generate a float value between 0 and 5
$rng->getFloat(0, 5); // 2.3937446906217

These methods provide developers with more options for obtaining random float values within specified ranges.

7. Fallback Value Support for PHP INI Environment Variable Syntax

In the 8.3 version, PHP developers can specify fallback values for PHP INI settings when certain environment variables are absent, providing default values for greater configurability.

php

// Fallback to 'Foo' if SESSION_NAME is not set
session.name = ${SESSION_NAME:-Foo}

// Fallback to '[email protected]' if MAIL_FROM_USER or MAIL_FROM_DOMAIN is not set
sendmail_from = "${MAIL_FROM_USER:-info}@${MAIL_FROM_DOMAIN:-example.com}"

This addition simplifies configuration management by allowing graceful handling of missing environment variables.

8. PHP CLI Lint Supports Linting Multiple Files at Once

A notable improvement in PHP 8.3 is the ability to lint multiple files in a single invocation of the PHP CLI linting process. This enhancement streamlines the linting workflow, providing more efficiency when checking syntax errors across multiple files.

bash

php -l file1.php file2.php file3.php

This update improves the developer experience by allowing simultaneous linting of multiple files.

9. class_alias() Supports Aliasing Built-in PHP Classes

In PHP 8.3, the class_alias() function gains the capability to alias built-in PHP classes. Developers can now use class_alias() to create aliases for core PHP classes, providing more flexibility in code organization and naming conventions.

php


class_alias(\DateTime::class, 'MyDateTime');
$customDateTime = new MyDateTime();

This enhancement allows for cleaner and more expressive code when working with built-in PHP classes.

10. New stream_context_set_options Function

PHP 8.3 introduces a new function, stream_context_set_options, as an improvement over the existing stream_context_set_option. The new function supports multiple options and is expected to replace the original function in future PHP versions.

php

stream_context_set_options($stream_or_context, ['http' => ['method' => 'POST']]);

This update enhances stream context manipulation by providing a more versatile and future-proof API.

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Deprecations and Changes in PHP 8.3

1. get_class() and get_parent_class() Changes

In PHP 8.3, calling get_class() and get_parent_class() without parameters is deprecated. This change aims to streamline the usage of these functions and eliminate potential ambiguities arising from multiple function signatures.

php

class MyException extends InvalidArgumentException {
    public function __construct() {
        get_class();             // Deprecated in PHP 8.3
        get_parent_class();      // Deprecated in PHP 8.3
    }
}

Developers are encouraged to provide the $object parameter when using these functions to avoid deprecation notices.

2. unserialize(): E-NOTICE to E-WARNING

The behavior of the unserialize() function undergoes a change in PHP 8.3, where certain error conditions that previously emitted notices (E_NOTICE) now emit warnings (E_WARNING). This includes cases such as syntax errors and failures in custom __unserialize handlers.

php

// PHP 8.3
unserialize('invalid_data'); // Now emits E_WARNING for syntax errors

This change promotes consistency in error handling and encourages developers to handle unserialized errors more proactively.

3. HTML Highlight Tag Changes

The syntax highlighting functions in PHP, namely highlight_file and highlight_string, undergo changes in PHP 8.3. The resulting HTML output is now wrapped in <pre><code></code></pre>, and line breaks are no longer converted to <br /> tags. Additionally, white spaces and tabs are no longer converted to HTML entities.

php

$code = file_get_contents('example.php');
echo highlight_string($code, true);

This adjustment improves the clarity of highlighted code and aligns with modern HTML standards.

4. Granular DateTime Exceptions

PHP 8.3 introduces granular Exception and Error classes specific to date-related issues, providing more detailed information in case of errors. These extension-specific classes enhance the precision of error reporting related to DateTime operations.

php

try {
    // DateTime-related operation
} catch (\DateTimeException $e) {
    // Handle DateTime-specific exception
} catch (\Exception $e) {
    // Handle other exceptions
}

This refinement in exception handling aids developers in identifying and addressing date-related errors more effectively.

How to Upgrade to the Latest PHP Version Cloudways

You can easily upgrade your current PHP version to the latest version on Cloudways by following the steps below:

• Login to the Cloudways Platform.
• Select your server.
• You’ll be redirected to the Server Management page.
• Click Settings & Packages > Packages.

• Select PHP 8.2 from the drop-down menu, as PHP 8.3 is not currently available on the Cloudways platform but is scheduled to be added soon.

• Click Save.
• That’s how easily you can upgrade your PHP version on Cloudways.

Conclusion

While PHP 8.3 may not introduce groundbreaking features comparable to previous versions like PHP 8.0 and 8.1, it focuses on refining the language, aligning features with evolving industry standards, and addressing various aspects of syntax and error handling.

Developers and teams familiar with these enhancements can leverage them wisely to improve code quality and maintainability.

If you’re considering transitioning to PHP 8.3, a thorough review of the documentation is recommended to ensure a smooth adaptation to the new features and changes.

In the top backend frameworks of the 2024 category, one name stands out above the rest – PHP with its dynamic Laravel framework. With PHP and Laravel, the possibilities are truly limitless.

And remember, you can upgrade to the latest version of PHP right from the Cloudways platform in just a few clicks.

Author’s Bio

Kane helps clients by transforming businesses through innovative ideas on their digital journey. Currently, he works at Ace Infoway. It’s no secret that he really loves writing meaningful content, where he perspectively talks about Software development, new ideas, future technologies, and SEO.

Inshal Ali

Inshal is a Content Marketer at Cloudways. With background in computer science, skill of content and a whole lot of creativity, he helps business reach the sky and go beyond through content that speaks the language of their customers. Apart from work, you will see him mostly in some online games or on a football field.

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