Language: try/catch/else PHP 8.4 syntax rejected on forward profile (Zend/zend_language_parser.y)

[PurHur]

Category

language · php-src-strict · PHP 8.4 forward profile

Problem

PHP 8.4 added try { } catch () { } else { } — the else block runs when no exception was thrown. On PHP_COMPILER_PROFILE=8.4, this compiler still rejects the syntax at parse time (Syntax error, unexpected T_ELSE), while property hooks and other 8.4 features compile on the same profile.

Repro	Zend 8.4	VM 8.4 profile (2026-07-04)
try { echo "try\n"; } catch (Throwable) { } else { echo "else\n"; }	try + else lines	Parse error on else

On Zend/VM 8.2 reference profile, both correctly reject the syntax — parity holds there; fix must enable parsing/lowering only when the language profile is 8.4+.

php-src reference

• php/php-src Zend/zend_language_parser.y — try_catch_list else
• php/php-src Zend/zend_compile.c — zend_compile_try else branch

PHP implementation target

• lib/Compiler.php / nikic/php-parser upgrade path — parse Stmt\TryCatch with optional else array
• lib/VM.php — emit else block only when catch handlers did not run; PHP lowering only

Repro

./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'PHP_COMPILER_PROFILE=8.4 php bin/vm.php test/repro/maintainer_gap_try_catch_else.php'
PHP_COMPILER_PROFILE=8.4 php test/repro/maintainer_gap_try_catch_else.php

Done when

• 8.4 profile: repro prints try then else when no exception; catch path skips else
• 8.2 reference profile: parse error unchanged
• Compliance .phpt under test/compliance/cases/language/
• php-src-strict; no php-compiler-strict shortcut

[PurHur]

claim: cursor-agent-lane-b — starting this run

[PurHur]

Merged via #15822.

Verification

• `PHP_COMPILER_PROFILE=8.4 php bin/vm.php test/repro/maintainer_gap_try_catch_else.php` → `try` + `else`
• Compliance: `try_catch_else.phpt`, `try_catch_else_reference_profile.phpt`
• Unit: `TryCatchElseSupportTest` (3 tests)