Array Variable Shorthand: [=$x] Instead of ['x' => $x]

Arrays often repeat the same word twice, once as the key and once as the variable: ['x' => $x, 'y' => $y]. Weilin Du's RFC adds =$name as a shorthand for 'name' => $name, so the key comes straight from the variable's name. It targets PHP 8.7.

What changes#

The shorthand works when you build an array and when you pull one apart:

$x = 10;
$y = 20;

$point = [=$x, =$y]; // $point = ['x' => $x, 'y' => $y]
[=$x, =$y] = $point; // ['x' => $x, 'y' => $y] = $point

You can mix it with regular keys, and it works in foreach destructuring too:

$name = 'Weilin';
$age = 26;
$user = ['id' => 1, =$name, =$age];
// ['id' => 1, 'name' => 'Weilin', 'age' => 26]

$rows = [['name' => 'Weilin']];
foreach ($rows as [=$name]) {
    echo $name; // Weilin
}

The long forms get it as well, so array(=$name) and list(=$name) = $user both work. The key keeps the variable's exact case, so =$Name gives you a 'Name' key.

Only a plain variable qualifies. =$$name, =$name[0] and =$object->name are all invalid, and for those you write the key out yourself. Function calls are out of scope, so foo(=$name) doesn't work either.

The first draft used :$name. The RFC switched to = because : already shows up inside arrays as part of a ternary, as in [$condition ? 'bar' :$baz].

What it means for existing code#

Nothing breaks. The syntax is invalid today, so no current code can mean anything else by it. Static analyzers and IDEs will need to learn the new element form in [], array() and list().

Where it stands#

Weilin Du announced the RFC on the internals list on September 29, 2026, and revised it the same day to use = and to cover array() and list(). The author calls it an early stage proposal, and there's no implementation yet. A vote would need a two-thirds majority.