# php

A Cursor rule for PHP style, security, API design, and testing. It targets PSR-12 and modern PHP 8.4+ projects.

- rule · `type=rule` · Cursor · ★ 3580
- Author: sanjeed5
- License: CC0-1.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/sanjeed5/awesome-cursor-rules-mdc/tree/HEAD/rules-mdc/php.mdc
- Updated: 2026-05-19
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/rules/php

## What it does

This rule guides Cursor while it edits PHP files. It sets PSR-12 as the style baseline, requires four-space indentation and Unix LF endings, and places `declare(strict_types=1);` in each PHP file. It also favors typed parameters and return values, constructor property promotion, `match`, `??`, and native attributes.

The guidance covers Composer autoload settings, ORM query loading, caching, strict comparisons, and error handling. Security checks include input validation, context-aware output escaping, parameterized queries, password hashing with `password_hash()`, dependency audits, and CSRF tokens.

It also describes REST conventions, PHPUnit unit and integration tests, PHPStan or Psalm, and CI checks on every commit. The rule targets PHP 8.4+, so older projects need a compatibility review before adopting these recommendations.

## Install

### Cursor (native platform)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/rules/php.mdc` — Frontmatter: description, globs, alwaysApply

### Claude Code

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.claude/rules/php.md` — The paths frontmatter field limits the files: move globs from the source into paths

### Codex

**AGENTS.md**
- Codex reads AGENTS.md: paste the rule text there

### GitHub Copilot

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/instructions/php.instructions.md` — The applyTo field sets which files it applies to: move globs from the source into applyTo

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/rules/php.md`

### Cline

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.clinerules/php.md`

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/sanjeed5/awesome-cursor-rules-mdc/tree/HEAD/rules-mdc/php.mdc

## When to use it
- format PHP code according to PSR-12
- add strict typing and explicit types
- prevent SQL injection in database queries
- validate input and escape rendered output
- set up PHPUnit and static analysis checks

## Example prompts
- Refactor this PHP file to PSR-12 and add strict typing.
- Review the `$_POST` and `$_GET` handling for validation, query safety, and output escaping.
- Create PHPUnit tests for this class and suggest PHPStan checks.

## Source text · php.mdc · CC0-1.0

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: e934a09f5a744e36.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE e934a09f5a744e36
````text
---
description: This guide provides definitive best practices for writing clean, secure, and maintainable PHP code, strictly adhering to PSR-12 and modern PHP 8.4+ features.
globs: **/*
---
# PHP Best Practices

This document outlines the definitive best practices for PHP development within our team. Adherence to these guidelines ensures consistency, maintainability, and security across all projects.

## Critical Guidelines:

### 1. Code Organization and Structure (PSR-12 & Strict Types)

Always adhere to PSR-12 for coding style. This includes indentation, brace placement, and line length. Crucially, enable strict typing in every PHP file.

*   **Indentation**: Use 4 spaces, never tabs.
*   **Line Endings**: Unix LF only.
*   **Closing Tag**: Omit `?>` from files containing only PHP code.
*   **File Header Order**:
    1.  `<?php`
    2.  File-level docblock (optional)
    3.  `declare(strict_types=1);`
    4.  `namespace` declaration
    5.  `use` statements (class, then function, then constant, grouped)
    6.  The rest of the code.

❌ BAD:
```php
<?php
namespace App\Service;
use App\Model\User;
declare(strict_types=1);

class UserService {
    public function getUser($id) { // Missing return type, no strict types at top
        return User::find($id);
    }
}
```

✅ GOOD:
```php
<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

namespace App\Service;

use App\Model\User;
use App\Repository\UserRepository;

class UserService
{
    public function __construct(private UserRepository $userRepository) {}

    public function getUser(int $id): ?User
    {
        return $this->userRepository->find($id);
    }
}
```

### 2. Common Patterns and Anti-patterns

*   **Type Hinting**: Always use scalar and return type declarations. Leverage PHP 8+ union types, intersection types, and `mixed`/`static`/`never` where appropriate.
*   **Constructor Property Promotion**: Use for concise dependency injection.
*   **Match Expression**: Prefer `match` over `switch` for cleaner, more expressive comparisons.
*   **Null Coalescing Operator (`??`)**: Use to simplify checks for `null` or unset variables.
*   **Attributes**: Prefer native PHP attributes (`#[Attribute]`) over docblock annotations for metadata.

❌ BAD:
```php
class LegacyProcessor {
    public function process($type, $data) {
        switch ($type) { // Old switch, no types
            case 'foo': return 'Foo ' . $data;
            case 'bar': return 'Bar ' . $data;
            default: return null;
        }
    }
}
```

✅ GOOD:
```php
<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

#[Attribute(Attribute::TARGET_CLASS)]
class MyServiceAttribute {}

#[MyServiceAttribute]
class ModernProcessor
{
    public function process(string $type, string $data): ?string
    {
        return match ($type) {
            'foo' => 'Foo ' . $data,
            'bar' => 'Bar ' . $data,
            default => null,
        };
    }

    public function getSetting(array $config): string
    {
        // Use null coalescing for default values
        return $config['setting'] ?? 'default_value';
    }
}
```

### 3. Performance Considerations

*   **Latest PHP Version**: Always use the current stable PHP version (8.4+).
*   **Composer Autoloading**: Optimize Composer's autoloader for production (`composer dump-autoload --optimize --no-dev --classmap-authoritative`).
*   **Avoid N+1 Queries**: Eager load relationships in ORMs.
*   **Caching**: Implement application-level caching for frequently accessed data.

### 4. Common Pitfalls and Gotchas

*   **Loose Comparisons**: Always use strict comparison operators (`===`, `!==`).
*   **Error Suppression**: Never use the `@` operator. Handle errors gracefully with exceptions.
*   **Modifying Arrays During Iteration**: Leads to unpredictable behavior. Iterate over a copy or use appropriate collection methods.

### 5. Security Best Practices

*   **Input Validation & Sanitization**: Validate all external input. Use specific validation rules, not just `filter_var`.
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE e934a09f5a744e36

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