The return parameter was added in PHP4.3.0 and this does change the return type.

As this is the current way print_r() operates, then I agree with you that it should and that the old behaviour should be recorded.

"Mixed" is not terribly descriptive though. Maybe...

Index: en/reference/var/functions/print-r.xml
===================================================================
RCS file: /repository/phpdoc/en/reference/var/functions/print-r.xml,v
retrieving revision 1.12
diff -u -r1.12 print-r.xml
--- en/reference/var/functions/print-r.xml	7 Mar 2006 01:12:15 -0000	1.12
+++ en/reference/var/functions/print-r.xml	8 Apr 2007 19:42:19 -0000
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
    <refsect1>
     <title>Description</title>
      <methodsynopsis>
-      <type>bool</type><methodname>print_r</methodname>
+      <type>bool/string</type><methodname>print_r</methodname>
       <methodparam><type>mixed</type><parameter>expression</parameter></methodparam>
       <methodparam choice="opt"><type>bool</type><parameter>return</parameter></methodparam>
      </methodsynopsis>

I don't know if we allow that.

Ref:  bool print_r ( mixed $expression [, bool $return] ) 

Agree that the return on print_r() should be "mixed" not "bool" as print_r either returns a bool or a string:

     If $return is not specified or set to false then print_r returns
           a bool of TRUE if command is successful  - or -
           a bool of FALSE on error

     If $return == TRUE then print_r either returns 
           a string if command completes OK   - or - 
           a bool FALSE on errors

Correct syntax is:
	
     mixed print_r ( mixed $expression [, bool $return] ) 

Although "mixed" is not very descriptive, this usage is consistent with the rest of the documentation.

This bug has been fixed in the documentation's XML sources. Since the
online and downloadable versions of the documentation need some time
to get updated, we would like to ask you to be a bit patient.

Thank you for the report, and for helping us make our documentation better.

Thanks for the patch Edward