[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #59818: [PHP 8.1] deprecated null in `explode()` for 'ping_sites' in `wp-admin/options-writing.php` with "Discourage search engines" on

[WordPress Trac]

#59818: [PHP 8.1] deprecated null in `explode()` for 'ping_sites' in `wp-admin
/options-writing.php` with "Discourage search engines" on
-------------------------------+-----------------------------
 Reporter:  kitchin            |      Owner:  (none)
     Type:  defect (bug)       |     Status:  new
 Priority:  normal             |  Milestone:  Awaiting Review
Component:  Administration     |    Version:  trunk
 Severity:  normal             |   Keywords:
  Focuses:  php-compatibility  |
-------------------------------+-----------------------------
 When "Discourage search engines" is on, any update to Dashboard / Writing
 causes:
 `Deprecated: explode(): Passing null to parameter #2 ($string) of type
 string is deprecated in .../wp-includes/formatting.php`

 In this case, the 'ping_sites' option is not displayed, so the $_POST
 value is null. The deprecation warning is triggered in `wp-
 includes/formatting.php`, in `sanitize_option()`, "case 'ping_sites':".

 Tested on today's nightly, WordPress 6.5-alpha-57063. Also affects latest
 release, WP 6.3.2.

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/59818>
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