PHP 8 introduced several new features and improvements that can enhance your PHP programming experience. Here are some hidden tricks and features in PHP 8:

1. Union Types: PHP 8 introduced union types, allowing you to specify that a function parameter or return type can accept multiple types. For example, you can define a function parameter with the union type int|float to indicate that it can accept either an integer or a float value.
2. Nullsafe Operator (->?): The nullsafe operator (->?) provides a convenient way to access properties or methods on an object without worrying about potential null values. It allows you to chain method calls without explicitly checking for null values at each step.
3. Match Expression: PHP 8 introduced the match expression, which is similar to the switch statement but with a more concise syntax. The match expression allows for strict comparisons and can return a value based on the matched condition.
4. Named Arguments: Named arguments enable you to pass function arguments by name rather than relying on their position. This feature enhances code readability and makes it easier to work with functions that have many parameters.
5. Attributes: PHP 8 introduced attributes (also known as annotations), which allow you to add metadata to classes, functions, and properties. Attributes can be used for documentation, code generation, or custom annotations for frameworks and libraries.
6. JIT Compilation: PHP 8 includes Just-in-Time (JIT) compilation, which can improve the performance of your PHP code. By optimizing and compiling frequently executed code at runtime, JIT compilation can lead to significant speed improvements for certain workloads.
7. Stricter Type Checking: PHP 8 introduced stricter type checking and enhanced type annotations. The new type system helps catch more type-related errors during development, improving code quality and reducing runtime errors.
8. Constructor Property Promotion: PHP 8 introduced constructor property promotion, which simplifies class definitions by allowing you to declare and initialize class properties directly in the constructor parameters. This reduces boilerplate code when creating classes with many properties.

These are just a few of the hidden tricks and features in PHP 8. Exploring the PHP documentation and community resources can help you uncover even more enhancements and techniques to make the most of PHP 8’s capabilities.