`??` in if () statement misbehaving

[bludwagon]

Description

The following code:

<?php

$a=['t'=>'92345'];

var_dump($a['t']??0);// string(5) "92345"
var_dump('92345' < '12345');// false

if ($a['t']??0 < '12345'){echo('y');}else{echo('n');}// expected 'n' because ('92345' < '12345') <--- THIS
if ($a['x']??0 < '12345'){echo('y');}else{echo('n');}// expected 'y' because $a['x'] is null, so (0 < '12345')

Resulted in this output:

The ` <--- THIS` line returns 'y'

But I expected this output instead:

The ` <--- THIS` line returns 'n'

PHP Version

PHP 8.4.16 (cli) (built: Dec 18 2025 21:19:25) (NTS)
Copyright (c) The PHP Group
Built by Debian
Zend Engine v4.4.16, Copyright (c) Zend Technologies
    with Zend OPcache v8.4.16, Copyright (c), by Zend Technologies

Operating System

Debian

[iluuu1994]

Hi @bludwagon. See https://3v4l.org/o6FfB#v8.5.1. < has higher operator predecence than ??. https://www.php.net/manual/en/language.operators.precedence.php