ArrayObject does not work with end() in PHP 7.4

Question

On migrating to PHP 7.4 I have to deal with a different behavior of some array functions like reset(), current() or end() concerning ArrayObject. The following example produces different outputs:

<?php

$array = new \ArrayObject(["a", "b"]);
$item = end($array);
var_dump($item);


$array = ["a", "b"];
$item = end($array);
var_dump($item);

With php 7.4 the output is:

bool(false)
string(1) "b"

On PHP versions before 7.4 the output is the following:

string(1) "b"
string(1) "b"

A end($array->getArrayCopy()) produces a notice, but might be a workaround if used with a variable.

Is there a way to emulate the behavior of end() with an ArrayObject or ArrayIterator? The ArrayObject could be very big, an iteration to the end might not be the best solution.

Answer 1

From PHP 7.4 array methods don't operate on internal array, but on ArrayObject itself. I summarized two solutions for that.

1. Getting internal array of object.

$array = new \ArrayObject(["a", "b"]);
$item = end($array->getArrayCopy());

2. Creating Facade of ArrayObject and adding custom method end() to upgraded class.

Answer 2

You can make the arrayobject an array to get the keys then use end on the keys to get the last key.

$array = new \ArrayObject(["a", "b"]);
$keys = array_keys((array)$array);
$end_key = end($keys);

var_dump($array[$end_key]);

It's not a pretty solution but it works.
I suggest you make it a function so that you can call it when needed.

https://3v4l.org/HTGYn

As a function:

function end_object($array){
    $keys = array_keys((array)$array);
    $end_key = end($keys);
    return $array[$end_key];
}


$array = new \ArrayObject(["a", "b"]);
$item = end_object($array);
var_dump($item);