Is the Leading Colon Optional in PDOStatement::bindParam() Parameter Names?

Optional Leading Colon in PDOStatement::bindParam() Parameter Names

The PHP documentation for PDOStatement::bindParam() states that the parameter identifier for named placeholders should have the form ":name". However, some users have observed that the leading colon seems to be optional.

Is the Colon Optional?

According to the documentation, no, the colon should not be omitted. The absence of an explicit mention of optional colons suggests that this behavior is not officially supported and should not be relied upon.

But Wait, It Works...

Intriguingly, in PHP 5.3.24 (and possibly other versions), omitting the leading colon does indeed work. This is because internally, a colon is added to the parameter if it's missing. This behavior is found in the source code for ext/pdo/pdo_stmt.c:363 (in PHP 5.3.24).

Implications

While this workaround currently functions, it should be used cautiously. Future versions of PHP or changes in PDO behavior could break this functionality. Therefore, it's best practice to adhere to the documentation and always include the leading colon when using named placeholders with PDOStatement::bindParam().

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