Cool!

I like the idea... but still think ?? is ugly :<

Maybe ??:?

$a = isset($b) && $b ? 'b' : 'c';
$a = $b ?? 'b' : 'c';

$a = isset($b) && $b ? $b : 'c';
$a = $b ??: 'c';

Considering that the basic purpose of a coalesce mechanism is to group questions and ORs...

$a = $b ?| $c ?| $d ?| 'default';

should be the equivalent of ...

$a = (isset($b) && !!$b) ? $b : (isset($c) && !!$c ? $c : (isset($d) && !!$d ? $d : 'default'));

As ? is a question mark and | is the OR symbol, combining them feels appropriate.

I think using just symbols, we are going to be on a limited choice. Combining symbols would seem to be the only choice. And so, if the symbols used can relate to the use, then that should make it easier to understand.

I agree in principle, but ?| is ugly.

How about |? ? :-D

No.

@TazeTSchnitzel what about ??: syntax?

How about $foo ?!?!?! $bar?

@nikic Excellent, let's ship it.

Let's just be honest here and say that ?? has a precedent in C# and Swift. Some other languages use ?: such as Cold Fusion and Objective-C but we already threw that option out the window. I see no reason to deviate from precedent in this case.

@morrisonlevi C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-COMBO BREAKERRRR

?? looks like WTF?! or I have a question in this line :)

@shoomyth Well, WTF?! No: Stop is already valid PHP code.

ok for
$a = $b ?? "something"; // equivalent to $a = isset($b) ? $b : "something"

so why not add also?

$a ??= "something"; // which will be equivalent to $a = isset($a) ? $a : "something" ...

shoomyth said:
@TazeTSchnitzel what about ??: syntax?

👍

I already suggested it in original thread.
$foo ?? exists : nope and $foo ??: nope would be perfectly consistent with current ternary operator (and make sense as well).

Please stop making the same suggestions, it's hurting my sanity.

Could we add another test case?

function f($x)
{
    printf("%s(%d)\n", __FUNCTION__, $x);
    return $x;
}

$a = f(null) ?? f(1) ?? f(2);

Should output f(0)\nf(1)\n, as in it doesn't invoke f(2).

@datibbaw Sure thing.

@datibbaw Done.

"string" . $array['undefined_key'] ?? "" . " another string"
-> Warning: Undefined array key "undefined_key" //expected to return "string another string"
$array['exist_key'] ?? "" . "another string"
-> return the value of $array['exist_key'] //expected to return $array['key']."another string"

@adnen-chouibi try putting parentheses around the part following the period