ArrayDiffOnNestedArrays

warning native on by default

Group: Probable bugs

array_diff compares elements through string conversion and cannot distinguish nested arrays correctly. Compare nested values structurally.

Example

<?php
$a=array_diff([[1]],[[2]]);

Reported:

• line 2: Compare nested arrays structurally.

Detection

• Resolved array_diff receives a statically known input array containing an array-valued element. Limit to literal elements or definite local literal provenance. Highlight call.
• Evaluate the effective array after PHP key normalization and duplicate-key overwrites, recursively where nested values supply evidence. Only surviving entries establish row collisions, nested arrays, non-stringable objects, formatted numeric strings or nested list shapes. Earlier entries overwritten by a later occurrence of the same normalized key are not evidence; unknown keys or unsupported effective-array evaluation discard proof.
• Resolve builtin functions, classes, constants and methods; user-defined lookalikes are excluded. Follow only bounded local proof in one lexical scope.
• Emit one finding per violating operation, not per supporting evidence statement. When the proof is inconclusive, nothing is reported.

Exceptions (no report)

• Do not report unresolved or shadowed builtin names, unknown values, or incomplete receiver/type provenance. Unknown calls, aliases escaping, and intervening writes invalidate local proof. Similar code outside the stated detection contract is not a finding.
• Both standard suppression forms suppress this native ID.

Fix

None. Choosing a repair requires intent or additional runtime information.

PHP versions

Available throughout supported PHP 5.3–8.5 where the referenced builtin/extension is available. Respect syntax/version-specific receiver contracts; unavailable APIs are not this rule’s concern.

Effective array-key behavior follows the PHP array contract.

Configure

In custos.json:

{
  "rules": {
    "ArrayDiffOnNestedArrays": {
      "enabled": false
    }
  }
}

Suppress

Before the statement or declaration (or the first statement of the file):

// @custos-ignore ArrayDiffOnNestedArrays