Extension exposing PHP 7 abstract syntax tree
This extension exposes the abstract syntax tree generated by PHP 7 and 8.
This is the documentation for version 1.x.y. See also documentation for version 0.1.x.
Windows: Download a prebuilt Windows DLL
and move it into the ext/ directory of your PHP installation. Furthermore, add
extension=php_ast.dll to your php.ini file.
(The php-ast PECL page also links to the same DLLs for Windows.)
Unix (PECL): Run pecl install ast and add extension=ast.so to your php.ini.
Unix (Compile): Compile and install the extension as follows.
phpize
./configure
make
sudo make install
Additionally add extension=ast.so to your php.ini file.
Defines:
ast\Node classast\Metadata classast\AST_* kind constantsast\flags\* flag constantsast\parse_file(string $filename, int $version)ast\parse_code(string $code, int $version [, string $filename = "string code"])ast\get_kind_name(int $kind)ast\kind_uses_flags(int $kind)ast\get_metadata()ast\get_supported_versions(bool $exclude_deprecated = false)Code can be parsed using either ast\parse_code(), which accepts a code string, or
ast\parse_file(), which accepts a file path. Additionally, both functions require a $version
argument to ensure forward-compatibility. The current version is 110.
$ast = ast\parse_code('<?php ...', $version=100);
// or
$ast = ast\parse_file('file.php', $version=100);
The abstract syntax tree returned by these functions consists of ast\Node objects.
ast\Node is declared as follows:
namespace ast;
class Node {
public $kind;
public $flags;
public $lineno;
public $children;
}
The kind property specifies the type of the node. It is an integral value, which corresponds to
one of the ast\AST_* constants, for example ast\AST_STMT_LIST. See the
AST node kinds section for an overview of the available node kinds.
The flags property contains node specific flags. It is always defined, but for most nodes it is
always zero. See the flags section for a list of flags supported by the different node
kinds.
The lineno property specifies the starting line number of the node.
The children property contains an array of child-nodes. These children can be either other
ast\Node objects or plain values. There are two general categories of nodes: Normal AST nodes,
which have a fixed set of named child nodes, as well as list nodes, which have a variable number
of children. The AST node kinds section contains a list of the child names for
the different node kinds.
Simple usage example:
<?php
$code = <<<'EOC'
<?php
$var = 42;
EOC;
var_dump(ast\parse_code($code, $version=70));
// Output:
object(ast\Node)#1 (4) {
["kind"]=>
int(132)
["flags"]=>
int(0)
["lineno"]=>
int(1)
["children"]=>
array(1) {
[0]=>
object(ast\Node)#2 (4) {
["kind"]=>
int(517)
["flags"]=>
int(0)
["lineno"]=>
int(2)
["children"]=>
array(2) {
["var"]=>
object(ast\Node)#3 (4) {
["kind"]=>
int(256)
["flags"]=>
int(0)
["lineno"]=>
int(2)
["children"]=>
array(1) {
["name"]=>
string(3) "var"
}
}
["expr"]=>
int(42)
}
}
}
}
The util.php file defines an ast_dump() function, which can be used to create a more
compact and human-readable dump of the AST structure:
<?php
require 'path/to/util.php';
$code = <<<'EOC'
<?php
$var = 42;
EOC;
echo ast_dump(ast\parse_code($code, $version=70)), "\n";
// Output:
AST_STMT_LIST
0: AST_ASSIGN
var: AST_VAR
name: "var"
expr: 42
To additionally show line numbers pass the AST_DUMP_LINENOS option as the second argument to
ast_dump().
A more substantial AST dump can be found in the tests.
There are a number of functions which provide meta-information for the AST structure:
ast\get_kind_name() returns a string name for an integral node kind.
ast\kind_uses_flags() determines whether the flags of a node kind may ever be non-zero.
ast\get_metadata() returns metadata about all AST node kinds. The return value is a map from AST
node kinds to ast\Metadata objects defined as follows.
namespace ast;
class Metadata
{
public $kind;
public $name;
public $flags;
public $flagsCombinable;
}
The kind is the integral node kind, while name is the same name as returned by the
get_kind_name() function.
flags is an array of flag constant names, which may be used by the node kind. flagsCombinable
specifies whether the flag should be checked using === (not combinable) or using & (combinable).
Together these two values provide programmatic access to the information listed in the
flags section.
The AST metadata is intended for use in tooling for working the AST, such as AST dumpers.
This section lists which flags are used by which AST node kinds. The “combinable” flags can be
combined using bitwise or and should be checked by using $ast->flags & ast\flags\FOO. The
“exclusive” flags are used standalone and should be checked using $ast->flags === ast\flags\BAR.
// Used by ast\AST_NAME (exclusive)
ast\flags\NAME_FQ (= 0) // example: \Foo\Bar
ast\flags\NAME_NOT_FQ // example: Foo\Bar
ast\flags\NAME_RELATIVE // example: namespace\Foo\Bar
// Used by ast\AST_METHOD, ast\AST_PROP_DECL, ast\AST_PROP_GROUP,
// ast\AST_CLASS_CONST_DECL, ast\AST_CLASS_CONST_GROUP, and ast\AST_TRAIT_ALIAS (combinable)
ast\flags\MODIFIER_PUBLIC
ast\flags\MODIFIER_PROTECTED
ast\flags\MODIFIER_PRIVATE
ast\flags\MODIFIER_STATIC
ast\flags\MODIFIER_ABSTRACT
ast\flags\MODIFIER_FINAL
ast\flags\MODIFIER_READONLY
// Used by ast\AST_CLOSURE, ast\AST_ARROW_FUNC (combinable)
ast\flags\MODIFIER_STATIC
// Used by ast\AST_FUNC_DECL, ast\AST_METHOD, ast\AST_CLOSURE, ast\AST_ARROW_FUNC (combinable)
ast\flags\FUNC_RETURNS_REF // legacy alias: ast\flags\RETURNS_REF
ast\flags\FUNC_GENERATOR // used only in PHP >= 7.1
// Used by ast\AST_CLOSURE_VAR
ast\flags\CLOSURE_USE_REF
// Used by ast\AST_CLASS (combinable since PHP 8.1 enums)
ast\flags\CLASS_ABSTRACT
ast\flags\CLASS_FINAL
ast\flags\CLASS_TRAIT
ast\flags\CLASS_INTERFACE
ast\flags\CLASS_ANONYMOUS
ast\flags\CLASS_ENUM // php 8.1 enums
ast\flags\CLASS_READONLY // php 8.2 readonly classes
// Used by ast\AST_PARAM (combinable)
ast\flags\PARAM_REF
ast\flags\PARAM_VARIADIC
ast\flags\PARAM_MODIFIER_PUBLIC (available since 1.0.8, same as ast\flags\MODIFIER_* in PHP >= 8.0)
ast\flags\PARAM_MODIFIER_PROTECTED (available since 1.0.8)
ast\flags\PARAM_MODIFIER_PRIVATE (available since 1.0.8)
// Used by ast\AST_TYPE (exclusive)
ast\flags\TYPE_ARRAY
ast\flags\TYPE_CALLABLE
ast\flags\TYPE_VOID
ast\flags\TYPE_BOOL
ast\flags\TYPE_LONG
ast\flags\TYPE_DOUBLE
ast\flags\TYPE_STRING
ast\flags\TYPE_ITERABLE
ast\flags\TYPE_OBJECT
ast\flags\TYPE_NULL // php 8.0 union types
ast\flags\TYPE_FALSE // php 8.0 union types
ast\flags\TYPE_TRUE // php 8.2 true type
ast\flags\TYPE_STATIC // php 8.0 static return type
ast\flags\TYPE_MIXED // php 8.0 mixed type
ast\flags\TYPE_NEVER // php 8.1 never type
// Used by ast\AST_CAST (exclusive)
ast\flags\TYPE_NULL
ast\flags\TYPE_BOOL
ast\flags\TYPE_LONG
ast\flags\TYPE_DOUBLE
ast\flags\TYPE_STRING
ast\flags\TYPE_ARRAY
ast\flags\TYPE_OBJECT
// Used by ast\AST_UNARY_OP (exclusive)
ast\flags\UNARY_BOOL_NOT
ast\flags\UNARY_BITWISE_NOT
ast\flags\UNARY_MINUS
ast\flags\UNARY_PLUS
ast\flags\UNARY_SILENCE
// Used by ast\AST_BINARY_OP and ast\AST_ASSIGN_OP (exclusive)
ast\flags\BINARY_BITWISE_OR
ast\flags\BINARY_BITWISE_AND
ast\flags\BINARY_BITWISE_XOR
ast\flags\BINARY_CONCAT
ast\flags\BINARY_ADD
ast\flags\BINARY_SUB
ast\flags\BINARY_MUL
ast\flags\BINARY_DIV
ast\flags\BINARY_MOD
ast\flags\BINARY_POW
ast\flags\BINARY_SHIFT_LEFT
ast\flags\BINARY_SHIFT_RIGHT
ast\flags\BINARY_COALESCE
// Used by ast\AST_BINARY_OP (exclusive)
ast\flags\BINARY_BOOL_AND
ast\flags\BINARY_BOOL_OR
ast\flags\BINARY_BOOL_XOR
ast\flags\BINARY_IS_IDENTICAL
ast\flags\BINARY_IS_NOT_IDENTICAL
ast\flags\BINARY_IS_EQUAL
ast\flags\BINARY_IS_NOT_EQUAL
ast\flags\BINARY_IS_SMALLER
ast\flags\BINARY_IS_SMALLER_OR_EQUAL
ast\flags\BINARY_IS_GREATER
ast\flags\BINARY_IS_GREATER_OR_EQUAL
ast\flags\BINARY_SPACESHIP
// Used by ast\AST_MAGIC_CONST (exclusive)
ast\flags\MAGIC_LINE
ast\flags\MAGIC_FILE
ast\flags\MAGIC_DIR
ast\flags\MAGIC_NAMESPACE
ast\flags\MAGIC_FUNCTION
ast\flags\MAGIC_METHOD
ast\flags\MAGIC_CLASS
ast\flags\MAGIC_TRAIT
// Used by ast\AST_USE, ast\AST_GROUP_USE and ast\AST_USE_ELEM (exclusive)
ast\flags\USE_NORMAL
ast\flags\USE_FUNCTION
ast\flags\USE_CONST
// Used by ast\AST_INCLUDE_OR_EVAL (exclusive)
ast\flags\EXEC_EVAL
ast\flags\EXEC_INCLUDE
ast\flags\EXEC_INCLUDE_ONCE
ast\flags\EXEC_REQUIRE
ast\flags\EXEC_REQUIRE_ONCE
// Used by ast\AST_ARRAY (exclusive), since PHP 7.1
ast\flags\ARRAY_SYNTAX_SHORT
ast\flags\ARRAY_SYNTAX_LONG
ast\flags\ARRAY_SYNTAX_LIST
// Used by ast\AST_ARRAY_ELEM (exclusive)
ast\flags\ARRAY_ELEM_REF
// Used by ast\AST_DIM (combinable), since PHP 7.4
ast\flags\DIM_ALTERNATIVE_SYNTAX
ast\flags\ENCAPS_VAR_DOLLAR_CURLY // php 8.2 deprecation, only available in php 8.2+
// Used by ast\AST_VAR (combinable), since PHP 8.2
ast\flags\ENCAPS_VAR_DOLLAR_CURLY
ast\flags\ENCAPS_VAR_DOLLAR_CURLY_VAR_VAR
// Used by ast\AST_CONDITIONAL (combinable), since PHP 7.4
ast\flags\PARENTHESIZED_CONDITIONAL
This section lists the AST node kinds that are supported and the names of their child nodes.
AST_ARRAY_ELEM: value, key
AST_ARROW_FUNC: name, docComment, params, stmts, returnType, attributes // name removed in version 110
AST_ASSIGN: var, expr
AST_ASSIGN_OP: var, expr
AST_ASSIGN_REF: var, expr
AST_ATTRIBUTE: class, args // php 8.0+ attributes (version 80+)
AST_BINARY_OP: left, right
AST_BREAK: depth
AST_CALL: expr, args
AST_CALLABLE_CONVERT: // php 8.1+ first-class callable syntax
AST_CAST: expr
AST_CATCH: class, var, stmts
AST_CLASS: name, docComment, extends, implements, stmts, (for enums) type
AST_CLASS_CONST: class, const
AST_CLASS_CONST_GROUP class, attributes, type // version 80+
AST_CLASS_NAME: class // version 70+
AST_CLONE: expr
AST_CLOSURE: name, docComment, params, uses, stmts, returnType, attributes // name removed in version 110
AST_CLOSURE_VAR: name
AST_CONDITIONAL: cond, true, false
AST_CONST: name
AST_CONST_ELEM: name, value, docComment
AST_CONTINUE: depth
AST_DECLARE: declares, stmts
AST_DIM: expr, dim
AST_DO_WHILE: stmts, cond
AST_ECHO: expr
AST_EMPTY: expr
AST_ENUM_CASE: name, expr, docComment, attributes // php 8.1+ enums
AST_EXIT: expr
AST_FOR: init, cond, loop, stmts
AST_FOREACH: expr, value, key, stmts
AST_FUNC_DECL: name, docComment, params, stmts, returnType, attributes
uses // prior to version 60
AST_GLOBAL: var
AST_GOTO: label
AST_GROUP_USE: prefix, uses
AST_HALT_COMPILER: offset
AST_IF_ELEM: cond, stmts
AST_INCLUDE_OR_EVAL: expr
AST_INSTANCEOF: expr, class
AST_ISSET: var
AST_LABEL: name
AST_MAGIC_CONST:
AST_MATCH: cond, stmts // php 8.0+ match
AST_MATCH_ARM: cond, expr // php 8.0+ match
AST_METHOD: name, docComment, params, stmts, returnType, attributes
uses // prior to version 60
AST_METHOD_CALL: expr, method, args
AST_METHOD_REFERENCE: class, method
AST_NAME: name
AST_NAMED_ARG: name, expr // php 8.0 named parameters
AST_NAMESPACE: name, stmts
AST_NEW: class, args
AST_NULLABLE_TYPE: type // Used only since PHP 7.1
AST_NULLSAFE_METHOD_CALL: expr, method, args // php 8.0 null safe operator
AST_NULLSAFE_PROP: expr, prop // php 8.0 null safe operator
AST_PARAM: type, name, default, attributes, docComment, hooks // 'hooks' field added in version 110
AST_POST_DEC: var
AST_POST_INC: var
AST_PRE_DEC: var
AST_PRE_INC: var
AST_PRINT: expr
AST_PROP: expr, prop
AST_PROP_ELEM: name, default, docComment, hooks // 'hooks' field added in version 110
AST_PROP_GROUP: type, props, attributes // version 70+
AST_PROPERTY_HOOK: name, docComment, params, stmts, attributes // version 110+
AST_PROPERTY_HOOK_SHORT_BODY: expr
AST_REF: var // only used in foreach ($a as &$v)
AST_RETURN: expr
AST_SHELL_EXEC: expr
AST_STATIC: var, default
AST_STATIC_CALL: class, method, args
AST_STATIC_PROP: class, prop
AST_SWITCH: cond, stmts
AST_SWITCH_CASE: cond, stmts
AST_THROW: expr
AST_TRAIT_ALIAS: method, alias
AST_TRAIT_PRECEDENCE: method, insteadof
AST_TRY: try, catches, finally
AST_TYPE:
AST_UNARY_OP: expr
AST_UNPACK: expr
AST_UNSET: var
AST_USE_ELEM: name, alias
AST_USE_TRAIT: traits, adaptations
AST_VAR: name
AST_WHILE: cond, stmts
AST_YIELD: value, key
AST_YIELD_FROM: expr
// List nodes (numerically indexed children):
AST_ARG_LIST
AST_ARRAY
AST_ATTRIBUTE_LIST // php 8.0+ attributes (version 80+)
AST_ATTRIBUTE_GROUP // php 8.0+ attributes (version 80+)
AST_CATCH_LIST
AST_CLASS_CONST_DECL
AST_CLOSURE_USES
AST_CONST_DECL
AST_ENCAPS_LIST // interpolated string: "foo$bar"
AST_EXPR_LIST
AST_IF
AST_LIST
AST_MATCH_ARM_LIST // php 8.0+ match
AST_NAME_LIST
AST_PARAM_LIST
AST_PROP_DECL
AST_STMT_LIST
AST_SWITCH_LIST
AST_TRAIT_ADAPTATIONS
AST_USE
AST_TYPE_UNION // php 8.0+ union types
AST_TYPE_INTERSECTION // php 8.1+ intersection types
The ast\parse_code() and ast\parse_file() functions each accept a required AST $version
argument. The idea behind the AST version is that we may need to change the format of the AST to
account for new features in newer PHP versions, or to improve it in other ways. Such changes will
always be made under a new AST version, while previous formats continue to be supported for some
time.
Old AST versions may be deprecated in minor versions and removed in major versions of the AST extension.
A list of currently supported versions is available through ast\get_supported_versions(). The
function accepts a boolean argument that determines whether deprecated versions should be excluded.
In the following the changes in the respective AST versions, as well as their current support state,
are listed.
Supported since 1.1.2 (2024-08-10).
hooks child node for AST_PROP_ELEM (PHP 8.4 property hooks) and AST_PARAM (constructor property promotion can have property hooks)AST_PROPERTY_HOOK and AST_PROPERTY_HOOK_SHORT_BODY.name child node from the AST_ARROW_FUNC and AST_CLOSURE nodes (previously "{closure}")Supported since 1.1.1 (2023-11-12).
type child node for all AST_CLASS_CONST_GROUP nodes.Supported since 1.0.14 (2021-07-24)
Supported since 1.0.11 (2021-04-20)
type child node (for enum type) for all AST_CLASS nodes.Supported since 1.0.10 (2020-09-12).
mixed type hints are now reported as an AST_TYPE with type TYPE_MIXED instead of an AST_NAME.AST_CLASS_CONST_GROUP nodes are emitted for class constant declarations wrapping the AST_CLASS_CONST_DECL and any attributes.AST_CLASS_CONST_DECL would be emitted.AST_PARAM, AST_CLASS_DECL, AST_METHOD, AST_PROP_DECL, AST_CLOSURE, AST_FUNC_DECL, and AST_ARROW_FUNC nodesSupported since 1.0.1 (2019-02-11).
AST_PROP_GROUP was added to support PHP 7.4’s typed properties.
The property visibility modifiers are now part of AST_PROP_GROUP instead of AST_PROP_DECL.
Note that property group type information is only available with AST versions 70+.
AST_CLASS_NAME is created instead of AST_CLASS_CONST for SomeClass::class.
Supported since 0.1.7 (2018-10-06).
Deprecated in php-ast 1.1.0.
AST_FUNC_DECL and AST_METHOD no longer generate a uses child. Previously this child wasnull.AST_CONST_ELEM now always has a docComment child. Previously it was absent on PHP 7.0.null.Supported since 0.1.5 (2017-07-19).
Deprecated in php-ast 1.1.0.
This is the oldest AST version available in 1.0.0. See the
0.1.x AST version changelog for information on changes prior to this version.
Next to php-ast I also maintain the PHP-Parser library, which has some overlap with
this extension. This section summarizes the main differences between php-ast and PHP-Parser so you
may decide which is preferable for your use-case.
The primary difference is that php-ast is a PHP extension (written in C) which exports the AST
internally used by PHP 7 and 8. PHP-Parser on the other hand is library written in PHP. This has a number
of consequences:
There are a number of differences in the AST representation and available support code:
ast_dump function is provided in the util.php file.The tolerant-php-parser-to-php-ast project can convert the AST produced by
tolerant-php-parser (Another pure PHP parser library) into the format used by the php-ast extension.
This can be used as a slow fallback in
case the php-ast extension is not available. It may also be used to produce a partial php-ast output
for code with syntax errors.