Web3 1.2.6 appears to ignore require in view function

Question

Given the following function:

    function checkLock() external view returns (bool) {
        require(
            address(this) == IERC721(_nftRegistryAddress).ownerOf(_tokenId),
            "[checkLock] Contract is not owner of tokenId"
        );
        return true;
    }

The correct state is false - the contract does not own the NFT.

If I call this function with Metamask's web3, i.e. 0.20.7, it correctly returns false.

If I call this function with web3 1.2.6, it incorrectly returns true!

I'm aware that relying on a require to return state is nonstandard, but would be interested in understanding the discrepancy.

Answer 1

This is a bug in either web3.js OR the node that you're communicating with.

It happens only if the require statement includes an error-message.

It happens when the node is Infura, but not when the node is Ganache.

Note that your function shouldn't be returning false in either case.

Either it returns true, or the function-call reverts.