Editing PHP (section)

==== Standard library changes and additions ====
* Weak maps were added in PHP&nbsp;8. A {{code|WeakMap}} holds references to objects, but these references do not prevent such objects from being [[Garbage collection (computer science)|garbage collected]].<ref name="wiki.php.net-3" /> This can provide performance improvements in scenarios where data is being [[Cache (computing)|cached]]; this is of particular relevance for [[object–relational mapping]]s (ORM).<ref name="Brent" />
* Various adjustments to interfaces, such as adding support for creating {{code|DateTime}} objects from interfaces, and the addition of a {{code|Stringable}} interface that can be used for type hinting.<ref name="Brent" />
* Various new functions including {{code|lang=php|str_contains()}}, {{code|lang=php|str_starts_with()}}, and {{code|lang=php|str_ends_with()}};<ref name="Merchant-2020">{{cite web |last1=Merchant |first1=Amit |title=These new string functions are coming in PHP 8 |url=https://www.amitmerchant.com/new-string-functions-php8/ |website=Amit Merchant |date=13 June 2020 |access-date=4 October 2020}}</ref> {{code|lang=php|fdiv()}}; {{code|lang=php|get_debug_type()}}; and {{code|lang=php|get_resource_id()}}<ref name="Brent" />
* Object implementation of {{code|lang=php|token_get_all()}}<ref name="Brent" />