xp-lang / php-is-operator
Is operator for PHP
v3.0.0
2026-05-10 08:13 UTC
Requires
- php: >=7.4.0
- xp-framework/ast: ^12.0 | ^11.8
- xp-framework/compiler: ^9.0
- xp-framework/core: ^12.0 | ^11.0 | ^10.0
Requires (Dev)
- xp-framework/test: ^2.0 | ^1.0
Suggests
None
Provides
None
Conflicts
None
Replaces
None
README
Plugin for the XP Compiler which adds an is operator to the PHP language compatible with the PHP pattern matching RFC.
Before
A mix of operators, functions, syntax and XP core functionality is():
is_string($value) // for primitives, use is_[T]() is_callable($value) // for pseudo types callable, array, object is_array($value) || $value instanceof \Traversable // no is_iterable in PHP 5 and 7.0 $value instanceof Date // for value types null === $value || is_int($value) // nullable types cannot be tested directly is('[:string]', $value) // for types beyond PHP type system is('string|util.URI', $value) // for types beyond PHP type system
After
Anything that works as a parameter, property or return type can be used with the is operator.
$value is string $value is callable $value is iterable $value is Date $value is ?int $value is array<string, string> $value is string|URI
Literal patterns
Tests using the identity comparison:
$value is 'test'; $value is 5; $value is 3|5|null; $value is 'heart'|'spade'; $value is self::Wild; $value is 'heart'|'spade'|self::Wild;
Numeric comparison patterns
With greater than (or equal) as well as less than (or equal) operators.
$value is <10; $value is >=5; $value is >5 & <10;
Structural patterns
Objects:
$value is Point(x: 3); // Matches any Point whose $x property is 3 $value is Point(x: 4|5); // Matches any Point whose $x property is 4 or 5 $value is Point(y: 3)|null; // Matches any Point whose $y property is 3, allowing `null` $value is Point(y: >0); // Matches any Point whose $x property is greater than 0
Arrays:
$value is [1, 2, 3, 4]; // Exact match $value is [1, 2, 3, ...]; // Begins with 1, 2, 3, but may have other entries $value is [1, 2, mixed, 4]; // Allows any value in the 3rd position $value is [1, 2, 3|4, 5]; // 3rd value may be 3 or 4
Maps:
$value is ['a' => 'A', 'b' => 'B']; // Exact key/value match, but order doesn't matter $value is ['b' => 'B', ...]; // Must have a 'b' key with value 'B', and more $value is ['b' => mixed, ...]; // Must have a 'b' key with any value, and more
Capturing values
Binding variables to object properties as well as array and map values:
$value is Point(x: 3, y: $y); // If $p->x === 3, bind $p->y to $y $value is ['a' => 'A', 'b' => $b]; // Bind value of key 'b' to $b $value is ['op' => 'drop', ... $items]; // Bind rest of array to $items
Match statement
The operator can be used in the cases of a match statement:
$result= match ($value) { is int => $value, is string => '"'.strtr($value, ['"' => '\\"']).'"', null => 'null', };
Installation
After installing the XP Compiler into your project, also include this plugin.
$ composer require xp-framework/compiler # ... $ composer require xp-lang/php-is-operator # ...
No further action is required.
See also
- https://wiki.php.net/rfc/pattern-matching
- https://docs.hhvm.com/hack/expressions-and-operators/is
- https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/typecasts.html
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/language-reference/keywords/is
- https://externals.io/message/120655 (Proposal to introduce is operator)

