[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #58896: Fix WP_List_Table magic methods for PHP 8.2 dynamic properties

[WordPress Trac]

#58896: Fix WP_List_Table magic methods for PHP 8.2 dynamic properties
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 Reporter:                |      Owner:  hellofromTonya
  antonvlasenko           |
     Type:  defect (bug)  |     Status:  assigned
 Priority:  normal        |  Milestone:  6.4
Component:                |    Version:
  Administration          |
 Severity:  normal        |   Keywords:  needs-patch needs-unit-tests php82
  Focuses:                |
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 Changes requested are:

 1. Change 1: Add a notice to each of the `WP_List_Table` magic methods to
 alert and inform developers when attempting to get/set/isset/unset a
 dynamic property.

 `WP_List_Table` has a list of compatible fields (`compat_fields`), which
 was introduced at the same time as the magic methods. The fields in
 `compat_fields` list are then not dynamic properties, as the magic methods
 properly handle each. But fields not in that list are dynamic properties.

 What happens if a field is not in the list?

 * `__get()` falls through the method.
 * `__set()` nothing happens as it falls through the method.
 * `__isset()` returns `false`, which is correct.
 * `__unset()` nothing happens as it falls through the method.

 The problem:
 When a dynamic property is called on this class, there's no information
 given to the developer. The notice of `_doing_it_wrong()` will provide the
 alert to developers to modify their code.

 2. Change 2: Add `return null` in `__get()` when attempting to get a
 dynamic property that is not in the `compat_fields`.

 Props to @jrf for identifying the issue.

 References:
 * These changes were
 [https://www.youtube.com/live/vDZWepDQQVE?feature=share&t=10097 discussed
 and agreed to in a livestream] by @jrf @markjaquith and @hellofromTonya.
 * The changes are part of #56034, which is the larger Dynamic Properties
 proposal and initiative.

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/58896>
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