1.2.10. @ Operator

@ is the ‘no scream’ operator : it suppresses error output.

This operator is very slow : it processes the error, and finally decides not to display it. It is often faster to check the conditions first, then run the method without @.

You may also set display_error to 0 in the php.ini : this avoids user’s error display, and keeps the error in the PHP logs, for later processing.

The only situation where @ is useful is when a native PHP function displays errors messages and there is no way to check it from the code beforehand.

This was the case with fopen(), stream_socket_server(), token_get_all(). As of PHP 7.0, they are all hiding errors when @ is active.

<?php

// Set x with incoming value, or else null.
$x = @$_GET['x'];

?>

Name	Default	Type	Description
authorizedFunctions	noscream_functions.json	data	Functions that are authorized to sports a @.

See also I scream, you scream, we all scream for @, Error Control Operators and Five reasons why the shut-op operator should be avoided.

1.2.10.1. Suggestions

• Remove the @ operator by default

1.2.10.2. Specs

Short name	Structures/Noscream
Rulesets	All, Analyze, Appinfo, CE, CI-checks, Performances
Exakat since	0.8.4
PHP Version	All
Severity	Minor
Time To Fix	Quick (30 mins)
Precision	Very high
Features	class
ClearPHP	no-noscream
Examples	Phinx, PhpIPAM
Available in	Entreprise Edition, Community Edition, Exakat Cloud