Stdlib: touch() ignores $mtime/$atime — always uses now (ext/standard/filestat.c)

[PurHur]

Category

bug · php-src-strict · stdlib touch()

Problem

Zend’s touch($filename, $mtime, $atime) sets both timestamps. The VM returns true but leaves filemtime / fileatime at “now”, ignoring both the 2-arg and 3-arg forms.

Reflection already tracks optional ?int typing separately (#28558); this issue is the behavioral timestamp write.

Verified 2026-08-08 in ./script/docker-exec.sh vs host Zend 8.2.32.

Repro	Zend 8.2	VM (2026-08-08)
touch($p, 1600000000, 1599999900) then filemtime / fileatime	1600000000 / 1599999900	current unix time / current unix time
touch($p, 1600000000) (2-arg)	filemtime === 1600000000	filemtime stays “now”

php-src reference

• php/php-src ext/standard/filestat.c — PHP_FUNCTION(touch) → utime / utimes with optional mtime/atime
• Stub: ext/standard/file.stub.php — function touch(string $filename, ?int $mtime = null, ?int $atime = null): bool

PHP implementation target

• ext/standard/VmFsTouch*.php / FsDirJitHelper::touch — pass through $mtime / $atime to the native touch/utime path instead of always using “now”
• When $atime is omitted, Zend sets atime from mtime (2-arg); match that
• No new runtime/*.c beyond thin ABI if a native utime trampoline already exists

Repro

./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'cat > /tmp/touch_mtime.php <<'"'"'PHP'"'"'
<?php
$p = tempnam(sys_get_temp_dir(), "pc");
$mtime = 1600000000;
$atime = 1599999900;
touch($p, $mtime, $atime);
echo "mtime_ok=", filemtime($p) === $mtime ? "y" : "n", "\n";
echo "atime_ok=", fileatime($p) === $atime ? "y" : "n", "\n";
unlink($p);
PHP
php /tmp/touch_mtime.php; echo ---; php bin/vm.php /tmp/touch_mtime.php'

Done when

• 2-arg and 3-arg touch() set filemtime/fileatime like Zend
• Compliance .phpt under test/compliance/cases/
• php-src-strict; no php-compiler-strict shortcut

Related

• Reflection-only sibling: Regression: touch() Reflection mtime/atime int — Zend ?int (ext/standard/file.stub.php) #28558

[PurHur]

claim: PHP Compiler STD Lib — starting this run

Gate snapshot (this workspace):

• php script/bootstrap-inventory.php --check: OK 7248/7248
• Implementing php-src-strict touch($filename, $mtime, $atime) so 2-arg/3-arg set filemtime/fileatime like Zend (ext/standard/filestat.c)
• Will verify VM + AOT on the issue repro

[PurHur]

claim: PHP Compiler STD Lib — continuing this run

Workspace already on fix/28995-touch-mtime-atime with VmFsTouchPure fix (uncached exists probe + host clearstatcache after touch). Verifying VM+AOT and shipping.

[PurHur]

Merged via #29011

Fix: VmFsTouchPure no longer poisons VmStatCache via VmStatPath::exists() before host utime; first post-touch filemtime/fileatime match Zend when there was no prior positive hit. Host BG cache cleared after successful touch; VmStatCache positive hits still kept until clearstatcache (#25853).

Verified:

• Issue repro VM = Zend for 3-arg / 2-arg / prior-stat-stale
• touch.phpt, touch_mtime_atime_no_prior_stat.phpt, touch_statcache_stale.phpt
• PHPUnit TouchBuiltin VM + VmFsTouchTempnam + VmStatCache touch tests (10 OK)

AOT: still blocked by pre-existing FsDir helper host-\touch/\fopen delegation (#12145) — follow-up for a non-host utime path.