diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/CHANGELOG.md b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/CHANGELOG.md
index b7b6b08245..9fdeaffcdd 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ CHANGELOG
  * deprecated passing a Request instance to FormInterface::bind()
  * added options "method" and "action" to FormType
  * deprecated option "virtual", renamed it to "inherit_data"
+ * deprecated VirtualFormAwareIterator in favor of InheritDataAwareIterator
+ * [BC BREAK] removed the "array" type hint from DataMapperInterface
+ * improved forms inheriting their parent data to actually return that data from getData(), getNormData() and getViewData()
 
 2.2.0
 -----
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/DataMapperInterface.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/DataMapperInterface.php
index a574cbc8de..6e03168291 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/DataMapperInterface.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/DataMapperInterface.php
@@ -19,20 +19,20 @@ interface DataMapperInterface
     /**
      * Maps properties of some data to a list of forms.
      *
-     * @param mixed $data  Structured data.
-     * @param array $forms A list of {@link FormInterface} instances.
+     * @param mixed           $data  Structured data.
+     * @param FormInterface[] $forms A list of {@link FormInterface} instances.
      *
      * @throws Exception\UnexpectedTypeException if the type of the data parameter is not supported.
      */
-    public function mapDataToForms($data, array $forms);
+    public function mapDataToForms($data, $forms);
 
     /**
      * Maps the data of a list of forms into the properties of some data.
      *
-     * @param array $forms A list of {@link FormInterface} instances.
-     * @param mixed $data  Structured data.
+     * @param FormInterface[] $forms A list of {@link FormInterface} instances.
+     * @param mixed           $data  Structured data.
      *
      * @throws Exception\UnexpectedTypeException if the type of the data parameter is not supported.
      */
-    public function mapFormsToData(array $forms, &$data);
+    public function mapFormsToData($forms, &$data);
 }
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Exception/RuntimeException.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Exception/RuntimeException.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0af48a4a21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Exception/RuntimeException.php
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+<?php
+
+/*
+ * This file is part of the Symfony package.
+ *
+ * (c) Fabien Potencier <fabien@symfony.com>
+ *
+ * For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
+ * file that was distributed with this source code.
+ */
+
+namespace Symfony\Component\Form\Exception;
+
+/**
+ * Base RuntimeException for the Form component.
+ *
+ * @author Bernhard Schussek <bschussek@gmail.com>
+ */
+class RuntimeException extends \RuntimeException implements ExceptionInterface
+{
+}
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Extension/Core/DataMapper/PropertyPathMapper.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Extension/Core/DataMapper/PropertyPathMapper.php
index cb59baa075..d8bd9c715b 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Extension/Core/DataMapper/PropertyPathMapper.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Extension/Core/DataMapper/PropertyPathMapper.php
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 namespace Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\DataMapper;
 
 use Symfony\Component\Form\DataMapperInterface;
-use Symfony\Component\Form\Util\VirtualFormAwareIterator;
 use Symfony\Component\Form\Exception\UnexpectedTypeException;
 use Symfony\Component\PropertyAccess\PropertyAccess;
 use Symfony\Component\PropertyAccess\PropertyAccessorInterface;
@@ -42,7 +41,7 @@ class PropertyPathMapper implements DataMapperInterface
     /**
      * {@inheritdoc}
      */
-    public function mapDataToForms($data, array $forms)
+    public function mapDataToForms($data, $forms)
     {
         if (null === $data || array() === $data) {
             return;
@@ -52,11 +51,7 @@ class PropertyPathMapper implements DataMapperInterface
             throw new UnexpectedTypeException($data, 'object, array or empty');
         }
 
-        $iterator = new VirtualFormAwareIterator($forms);
-        $iterator = new \RecursiveIteratorIterator($iterator);
-
-        foreach ($iterator as $form) {
-            /* @var \Symfony\Component\Form\FormInterface $form */
+        foreach ($forms as $form) {
             $propertyPath = $form->getPropertyPath();
             $config = $form->getConfig();
 
@@ -69,7 +64,7 @@ class PropertyPathMapper implements DataMapperInterface
     /**
      * {@inheritdoc}
      */
-    public function mapFormsToData(array $forms, &$data)
+    public function mapFormsToData($forms, &$data)
     {
         if (null === $data) {
             return;
@@ -79,11 +74,7 @@ class PropertyPathMapper implements DataMapperInterface
             throw new UnexpectedTypeException($data, 'object, array or empty');
         }
 
-        $iterator = new VirtualFormAwareIterator($forms);
-        $iterator = new \RecursiveIteratorIterator($iterator);
-
-        foreach ($iterator as $form) {
-            /* @var \Symfony\Component\Form\FormInterface $form */
+        foreach ($forms as $form) {
             $propertyPath = $form->getPropertyPath();
             $config = $form->getConfig();
 
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Extension/Validator/ViolationMapper/ViolationMapper.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Extension/Validator/ViolationMapper/ViolationMapper.php
index 4eb9126b6b..8a7636c7e8 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Extension/Validator/ViolationMapper/ViolationMapper.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Extension/Validator/ViolationMapper/ViolationMapper.php
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 namespace Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Validator\ViolationMapper;
 
 use Symfony\Component\Form\FormInterface;
-use Symfony\Component\Form\Util\VirtualFormAwareIterator;
+use Symfony\Component\Form\Util\InheritDataAwareIterator;
 use Symfony\Component\PropertyAccess\PropertyPathIterator;
 use Symfony\Component\PropertyAccess\PropertyPathBuilder;
 use Symfony\Component\PropertyAccess\PropertyPathIteratorInterface;
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ class ViolationMapper implements ViolationMapperInterface
             $scope = $form;
             $it = new ViolationPathIterator($violationPath);
 
+            // Note: acceptsErrors() will always return true for forms inheriting
+            // their parent data, because these forms can never be non-synchronized
+            // (they don't do any data transformation on their own)
             while ($this->acceptsErrors($scope) && $it->valid() && $it->mapsForm()) {
                 if (!$scope->has($it->current())) {
                     // Break if we find a reference to a non-existing child
@@ -164,7 +167,7 @@ class ViolationMapper implements ViolationMapperInterface
 
         // Skip forms inheriting their parent data when iterating the children
         $childIterator = new \RecursiveIteratorIterator(
-            new VirtualFormAwareIterator($form->all())
+            new InheritDataAwareIterator($form->all())
         );
 
         // Make the path longer until we find a matching child
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Form.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Form.php
index 3b95817be0..db884cf6f5 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Form.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Form.php
@@ -11,11 +11,14 @@
 
 namespace Symfony\Component\Form;
 
+use Symfony\Component\Form\Exception\BadMethodCallException;
 use Symfony\Component\Form\Exception\Exception;
+use Symfony\Component\Form\Exception\RuntimeException;
 use Symfony\Component\Form\Exception\UnexpectedTypeException;
 use Symfony\Component\Form\Exception\AlreadyBoundException;
 use Symfony\Component\Form\Exception\TransformationFailedException;
 use Symfony\Component\Form\Util\FormUtil;
+use Symfony\Component\Form\Util\InheritDataAwareIterator;
 use Symfony\Component\PropertyAccess\PropertyPath;
 
 /**
@@ -130,7 +133,7 @@ class Form implements \IteratorAggregate, FormInterface
      *
      * @var Boolean
      */
-    private $initialized = false;
+    private $defaultDataSet = false;
 
     /**
      * Whether setData() is currently being called.
@@ -143,7 +146,7 @@ class Form implements \IteratorAggregate, FormInterface
      *
      * @param FormConfigInterface $config The form configuration.
      *
-     * @throws FormException if a data mapper is not provided for a compound form
+     * @throws Exception if a data mapper is not provided for a compound form
      */
     public function __construct(FormConfigInterface $config)
     {
@@ -154,6 +157,12 @@ class Form implements \IteratorAggregate, FormInterface
             throw new Exception('Compound forms need a data mapper');
         }
 
+        // If the form inherits the data from its parent, it is not necessary
+        // to call setData() with the default data.
+        if ($config->getInheritData()) {
+            $this->defaultDataSet = true;
+        }
+
         $this->config = $config;
     }
 
@@ -193,7 +202,13 @@ class Form implements \IteratorAggregate, FormInterface
             return null;
         }
 
-        if ($this->parent && null === $this->parent->getConfig()->getDataClass()) {
+        $parent = $this->parent;
+
+        while ($parent && $parent->getConfig()->getInheritData()) {
+            $parent = $parent->getParent();
+        }
+
+        if ($parent && null === $parent->getConfig()->getDataClass()) {
             return new PropertyPath('['.$this->getName().']');
         }
 
@@ -274,8 +289,14 @@ class Form implements \IteratorAggregate, FormInterface
         // If the form is bound while disabled, it is set to bound, but the data is not
         // changed. In such cases (i.e. when the form is not initialized yet) don't
         // abort this method.
-        if ($this->bound && $this->initialized) {
-            throw new AlreadyBoundException('You cannot change the data of a bound form');
+        if ($this->bound && $this->defaultDataSet) {
+            throw new AlreadyBoundException('You cannot change the data of a bound form.');
+        }
+
+        // If the form inherits its parent's data, disallow data setting to
+        // prevent merge conflicts
+        if ($this->config->getInheritData()) {
+            throw new RuntimeException('You cannot change the data of a form inheriting its parent data.');
         }
 
         // Don't allow modifications of the configured data if the data is locked
@@ -288,7 +309,7 @@ class Form implements \IteratorAggregate, FormInterface
         }
 
         if ($this->lockSetData) {
-            throw new Exception('A cycle was detected. Listeners to the PRE_SET_DATA event must not call setData(). You should call setData() on the FormEvent object instead.');
+            throw new RuntimeException('A cycle was detected. Listeners to the PRE_SET_DATA event must not call setData(). You should call setData() on the FormEvent object instead.');
         }
 
         $this->lockSetData = true;
@@ -342,14 +363,16 @@ class Form implements \IteratorAggregate, FormInterface
         $this->modelData = $modelData;
         $this->normData = $normData;
         $this->viewData = $viewData;
-        $this->initialized = true;
+        $this->defaultDataSet = true;
         $this->lockSetData = false;
 
         // It is not necessary to invoke this method if the form doesn't have children,
         // even if the form is compound.
         if (count($this->children) > 0) {
             // Update child forms from the data
-            $this->config->getDataMapper()->mapDataToForms($viewData, $this->children);
+            $childrenIterator = new InheritDataAwareIterator($this->children);
+            $childrenIterator = new \RecursiveIteratorIterator($childrenIterator);
+            $this->config->getDataMapper()->mapDataToForms($viewData, $childrenIterator);
         }
 
         if ($dispatcher->hasListeners(FormEvents::POST_SET_DATA)) {
@@ -365,7 +388,15 @@ class Form implements \IteratorAggregate, FormInterface
      */
     public function getData()
     {
-        if (!$this->initialized) {
+        if ($this->config->getInheritData()) {
+            if (!$this->parent) {
+                throw new RuntimeException('The form is configured to inherit its parent\'s data, but does not have a parent.');
+            }
+
+            return $this->parent->getData();
+        }
+
+        if (!$this->defaultDataSet) {
             $this->setData($this->config->getData());
         }
 
@@ -377,7 +408,15 @@ class Form implements \IteratorAggregate, FormInterface
      */
     public function getNormData()
     {
-        if (!$this->initialized) {
+        if ($this->config->getInheritData()) {
+            if (!$this->parent) {
+                throw new RuntimeException('The form is configured to inherit its parent\'s data, but does not have a parent.');
+            }
+
+            return $this->parent->getNormData();
+        }
+
+        if (!$this->defaultDataSet) {
             $this->setData($this->config->getData());
         }
 
@@ -389,7 +428,15 @@ class Form implements \IteratorAggregate, FormInterface
      */
     public function getViewData()
     {
-        if (!$this->initialized) {
+        if ($this->config->getInheritData()) {
+            if (!$this->parent) {
+                throw new RuntimeException('The form is configured to inherit its parent\'s data, but does not have a parent.');
+            }
+
+            return $this->parent->getViewData();
+        }
+
+        if (!$this->defaultDataSet) {
             $this->setData($this->config->getData());
         }
 
@@ -423,6 +470,11 @@ class Form implements \IteratorAggregate, FormInterface
             throw new AlreadyBoundException('A form can only be bound once');
         }
 
+        // Initialize errors in the very beginning so that we don't lose any
+        // errors added during listeners
+        $this->errors = array();
+
+        // Obviously, a disabled form should not change its data upon binding.
         if ($this->isDisabled()) {
             $this->bound = true;
 
@@ -432,7 +484,7 @@ class Form implements \IteratorAggregate, FormInterface
         // The data must be initialized if it was not initialized yet.
         // This is necessary to guarantee that the *_SET_DATA listeners
         // are always invoked before bind() takes place.
-        if (!$this->initialized) {
+        if (!$this->defaultDataSet) {
             $this->setData($this->config->getData());
         }
 
@@ -444,10 +496,6 @@ class Form implements \IteratorAggregate, FormInterface
             $submittedData = (string) $submittedData;
         }
 
-        // Initialize errors in the very beginning so that we don't lose any
-        // errors added during listeners
-        $this->errors = array();
-
         $dispatcher = $this->config->getEventDispatcher();
 
         // Hook to change content of the data bound by the browser
@@ -472,63 +520,83 @@ class Form implements \IteratorAggregate, FormInterface
             }
 
             $this->extraData = $submittedData;
+        }
 
+        // Forms that inherit their parents' data also are not processed,
+        // because then it would be too difficult to merge the changes in
+        // the child and the parent form. Instead, the parent form also takes
+        // changes in the grandchildren (i.e. children of the form that inherits
+        // its parent's data) into account.
+        // (see InheritDataAwareIterator below)
+        if ($this->config->getInheritData()) {
+            $this->bound = true;
+
+            // When POST_BIND is reached, the data is not yet updated, so pass
+            // NULL to prevent hard-to-debug bugs.
+            $dataForPostBind = null;
+        } else {
             // If the form is compound, the default data in view format
             // is reused. The data of the children is merged into this
             // default data using the data mapper.
-            $viewData = $this->viewData;
-        } else {
             // If the form is not compound, the submitted data is also the data in view format.
-            $viewData = $submittedData;
-        }
+            $viewData = $this->config->getCompound() ? $this->viewData : $submittedData;
 
-        if (FormUtil::isEmpty($viewData)) {
-            $emptyData = $this->config->getEmptyData();
+            if (FormUtil::isEmpty($viewData)) {
+                $emptyData = $this->config->getEmptyData();
 
-            if ($emptyData instanceof \Closure) {
-                /* @var \Closure $emptyData */
-                $emptyData = $emptyData($this, $viewData);
+                if ($emptyData instanceof \Closure) {
+                    /* @var \Closure $emptyData */
+                    $emptyData = $emptyData($this, $viewData);
+                }
+
+                $viewData = $emptyData;
             }
 
-            $viewData = $emptyData;
-        }
-
-        // Merge form data from children into existing view data
-        // It is not necessary to invoke this method if the form has no children,
-        // even if it is compound.
-        if (count($this->children) > 0) {
-            $this->config->getDataMapper()->mapFormsToData($this->children, $viewData);
-        }
-
-        $modelData = null;
-        $normData = null;
-
-        try {
-            // Normalize data to unified representation
-            $normData = $this->viewToNorm($viewData);
-
-            // Hook to change content of the data into the normalized
-            // representation
-            if ($dispatcher->hasListeners(FormEvents::BIND)) {
-                $event = new FormEvent($this, $normData);
-                $dispatcher->dispatch(FormEvents::BIND, $event);
-                $normData = $event->getData();
+            // Merge form data from children into existing view data
+            // It is not necessary to invoke this method if the form has no children,
+            // even if it is compound.
+            if (count($this->children) > 0) {
+                // Use InheritDataAwareIterator to process children of
+                // descendants that inherit this form's data.
+                // These descendants will not be bound normally (see the check
+                // for $this->config->getInheritData() above)
+                $childrenIterator = new InheritDataAwareIterator($this->children);
+                $childrenIterator = new \RecursiveIteratorIterator($childrenIterator);
+                $this->config->getDataMapper()->mapFormsToData($childrenIterator, $viewData);
             }
 
-            // Synchronize representations - must not change the content!
-            $modelData = $this->normToModel($normData);
-            $viewData = $this->normToView($normData);
-        } catch (TransformationFailedException $e) {
-            $this->synchronized = false;
-        }
+            $modelData = null;
+            $normData = null;
 
-        $this->bound = true;
-        $this->modelData = $modelData;
-        $this->normData = $normData;
-        $this->viewData = $viewData;
+            try {
+                // Normalize data to unified representation
+                $normData = $this->viewToNorm($viewData);
+
+                // Hook to change content of the data into the normalized
+                // representation
+                if ($dispatcher->hasListeners(FormEvents::BIND)) {
+                    $event = new FormEvent($this, $normData);
+                    $dispatcher->dispatch(FormEvents::BIND, $event);
+                    $normData = $event->getData();
+                }
+
+                // Synchronize representations - must not change the content!
+                $modelData = $this->normToModel($normData);
+                $viewData = $this->normToView($normData);
+            } catch (TransformationFailedException $e) {
+                $this->synchronized = false;
+            }
+
+            $this->bound = true;
+            $this->modelData = $modelData;
+            $this->normData = $normData;
+            $this->viewData = $viewData;
+
+            $dataForPostBind = $viewData;
+        }
 
         if ($dispatcher->hasListeners(FormEvents::POST_BIND)) {
-            $event = new FormEvent($this, $viewData);
+            $event = new FormEvent($this, $dataForPostBind);
             $dispatcher->dispatch(FormEvents::POST_BIND, $event);
         }
 
@@ -679,7 +747,7 @@ class Form implements \IteratorAggregate, FormInterface
         //  * getViewData() is called
         //  * setData() is called since the form is not initialized yet
         //  * ... endless recursion ...
-        if (!$this->lockSetData) {
+        if (!$this->lockSetData && !$this->config->getInheritData()) {
             $viewData = $this->getViewData();
         }
 
@@ -703,8 +771,10 @@ class Form implements \IteratorAggregate, FormInterface
 
         $child->setParent($this);
 
-        if (!$this->lockSetData) {
-            $this->config->getDataMapper()->mapDataToForms($viewData, array($child));
+        if (!$this->lockSetData && !$this->config->getInheritData()) {
+            $childrenIterator = new InheritDataAwareIterator(array($child));
+            $childrenIterator = new \RecursiveIteratorIterator($childrenIterator);
+            $this->config->getDataMapper()->mapDataToForms($viewData, $childrenIterator);
         }
 
         return $this;
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Tests/CompoundFormTest.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Tests/CompoundFormTest.php
index 1d52075d6c..fc3b5a6d6d 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Tests/CompoundFormTest.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Tests/CompoundFormTest.php
@@ -264,6 +264,7 @@ class CompoundFormTest extends AbstractFormTest
 
     public function testAddMapsViewDataToForm()
     {
+        $test = $this;
         $mapper = $this->getDataMapper();
         $form = $this->getBuilder()
             ->setCompound(true)
@@ -278,13 +279,34 @@ class CompoundFormTest extends AbstractFormTest
         $child = $this->getBuilder()->getForm();
         $mapper->expects($this->once())
             ->method('mapDataToForms')
-            ->with('bar', array($child));
+            ->with('bar', $this->isInstanceOf('\RecursiveIteratorIterator'))
+            ->will($this->returnCallback(function ($data, \RecursiveIteratorIterator $iterator) use ($child, $test) {
+                $test->assertInstanceOf('Symfony\Component\Form\Util\InheritDataAwareIterator', $iterator->getInnerIterator());
+                $test->assertSame(array($child), iterator_to_array($iterator));
+            }));
+
+        $form->add($child);
+    }
+
+    public function testAddDoesNotMapViewDataToFormIfInheritData()
+    {
+        $mapper = $this->getDataMapper();
+        $form = $this->getBuilder()
+            ->setCompound(true)
+            ->setDataMapper($mapper)
+            ->setInheritData(true)
+            ->getForm();
+
+        $child = $this->getBuilder()->getForm();
+        $mapper->expects($this->never())
+            ->method('mapDataToForms');
 
         $form->add($child);
     }
 
     public function testSetDataMapsViewDataToChildren()
     {
+        $test = $this;
         $mapper = $this->getDataMapper();
         $form = $this->getBuilder()
             ->setCompound(true)
@@ -300,7 +322,11 @@ class CompoundFormTest extends AbstractFormTest
 
         $mapper->expects($this->once())
             ->method('mapDataToForms')
-            ->with('bar', array('firstName' => $child1, 'lastName' => $child2));
+            ->with('bar', $this->isInstanceOf('\RecursiveIteratorIterator'))
+            ->will($this->returnCallback(function ($data, \RecursiveIteratorIterator $iterator) use ($child1, $child2, $test) {
+                $test->assertInstanceOf('Symfony\Component\Form\Util\InheritDataAwareIterator', $iterator->getInnerIterator());
+                $test->assertSame(array('firstName' => $child1, 'lastName' => $child2), iterator_to_array($iterator));
+            }));
 
         $form->setData('foo');
     }
@@ -324,10 +350,12 @@ class CompoundFormTest extends AbstractFormTest
 
         $mapper->expects($this->once())
             ->method('mapFormsToData')
-            ->with(array('firstName' => $child1, 'lastName' => $child2), 'bar')
-            ->will($this->returnCallback(function ($children, $bar) use ($test) {
-                $test->assertEquals('Bernhard', $children['firstName']->getData());
-                $test->assertEquals('Schussek', $children['lastName']->getData());
+            ->with($this->isInstanceOf('\RecursiveIteratorIterator'), 'bar')
+            ->will($this->returnCallback(function (\RecursiveIteratorIterator $iterator) use ($child1, $child2, $test) {
+                $test->assertInstanceOf('Symfony\Component\Form\Util\InheritDataAwareIterator', $iterator->getInnerIterator());
+                $test->assertSame(array('firstName' => $child1, 'lastName' => $child2), iterator_to_array($iterator));
+                $test->assertEquals('Bernhard', $child1->getData());
+                $test->assertEquals('Schussek', $child2->getData());
             }));
 
         $form->bind(array(
@@ -336,6 +364,31 @@ class CompoundFormTest extends AbstractFormTest
         ));
     }
 
+    public function testMapFormsToDataIsNotInvokedIfInheritData()
+    {
+        $mapper = $this->getDataMapper();
+        $form = $this->getBuilder()
+            ->setCompound(true)
+            ->setDataMapper($mapper)
+            ->setInheritData(true)
+            ->addViewTransformer(new FixedDataTransformer(array(
+                '' => '',
+                'foo' => 'bar',
+            )))
+            ->getForm();
+
+        $form->add($child1 = $this->getBuilder('firstName')->setCompound(false)->getForm());
+        $form->add($child2 = $this->getBuilder('lastName')->setCompound(false)->getForm());
+
+        $mapper->expects($this->never())
+            ->method('mapFormsToData');
+
+        $form->bind(array(
+            'firstName' => 'Bernhard',
+            'lastName' => 'Schussek',
+        ));
+    }
+
     /*
      * https://github.com/symfony/symfony/issues/4480
      */
@@ -356,6 +409,7 @@ class CompoundFormTest extends AbstractFormTest
 
     public function testBindMapsBoundChildrenOntoEmptyData()
     {
+        $test = $this;
         $mapper = $this->getDataMapper();
         $object = new \stdClass();
         $form = $this->getBuilder()
@@ -369,7 +423,11 @@ class CompoundFormTest extends AbstractFormTest
 
         $mapper->expects($this->once())
             ->method('mapFormsToData')
-            ->with(array('name' => $child), $object);
+            ->with($this->isInstanceOf('\RecursiveIteratorIterator'), $object)
+            ->will($this->returnCallback(function (\RecursiveIteratorIterator $iterator) use ($child, $test) {
+                $test->assertInstanceOf('Symfony\Component\Form\Util\InheritDataAwareIterator', $iterator->getInnerIterator());
+                $test->assertSame(array('name' => $child), iterator_to_array($iterator));
+            }));
 
         $form->bind(array(
             'name' => 'Bernhard',
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Tests/Extension/Core/DataMapper/PropertyPathMapperTest.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Tests/Extension/Core/DataMapper/PropertyPathMapperTest.php
index 32ef587862..ee2e3351ce 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Tests/Extension/Core/DataMapper/PropertyPathMapperTest.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Tests/Extension/Core/DataMapper/PropertyPathMapperTest.php
@@ -182,37 +182,6 @@ class PropertyPathMapperTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
         $this->assertNull($form->getData());
     }
 
-    public function testMapDataToFormsSkipsFormsInheritingParentData()
-    {
-        $car = new \stdClass();
-        $engine = new \stdClass();
-        $propertyPath = $this->getPropertyPath('engine');
-
-        $this->propertyAccessor->expects($this->once())
-            ->method('getValue')
-            ->with($car, $propertyPath)
-            ->will($this->returnValue($engine));
-
-        $config = new FormConfigBuilder('name', '\stdClass', $this->dispatcher);
-        $config->setByReference(true);
-        $config->setInheritData(true);
-        $config->setCompound(true);
-        $config->setDataMapper($this->getDataMapper());
-        $form = $this->getForm($config);
-
-        $config = new FormConfigBuilder('engine', '\stdClass', $this->dispatcher);
-        $config->setByReference(true);
-        $config->setPropertyPath($propertyPath);
-        $child = $this->getForm($config);
-
-        $form->add($child);
-
-        $this->mapper->mapDataToForms($car, array($form));
-
-        $this->assertNull($form->getData());
-        $this->assertSame($engine, $child->getData());
-    }
-
     public function testMapFormsToDataWritesBackIfNotByReference()
     {
         $car = new \stdClass();
@@ -347,38 +316,4 @@ class PropertyPathMapperTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
 
         $this->mapper->mapFormsToData(array($form), $car);
     }
-
-    public function testMapFormsToDataSkipsFormsInheritingParentData()
-    {
-        $car = new \stdClass();
-        $engine = new \stdClass();
-        $parentPath = $this->getPropertyPath('name');
-        $childPath = $this->getPropertyPath('engine');
-
-        // getValue() and setValue() must never be invoked for $parentPath
-
-        $this->propertyAccessor->expects($this->once())
-            ->method('getValue')
-            ->with($car, $childPath);
-        $this->propertyAccessor->expects($this->once())
-            ->method('setValue')
-            ->with($car, $childPath, $engine);
-
-        $config = new FormConfigBuilder('name', '\stdClass', $this->dispatcher);
-        $config->setPropertyPath($parentPath);
-        $config->setInheritData(true);
-        $config->setCompound(true);
-        $config->setDataMapper($this->getDataMapper());
-        $form = $this->getForm($config);
-
-        $config = new FormConfigBuilder('engine', '\stdClass', $this->dispatcher);
-        $config->setByReference(true);
-        $config->setPropertyPath($childPath);
-        $config->setData($engine);
-        $child = $this->getForm($config);
-
-        $form->add($child);
-
-        $this->mapper->mapFormsToData(array($form), $car);
-    }
 }
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Tests/Extension/Validator/ViolationMapper/ViolationMapperTest.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Tests/Extension/Validator/ViolationMapper/ViolationMapperTest.php
index 516b62299d..cbe1acbe9c 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Tests/Extension/Validator/ViolationMapper/ViolationMapperTest.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Tests/Extension/Validator/ViolationMapper/ViolationMapperTest.php
@@ -183,28 +183,6 @@ class ViolationMapperTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
         $this->assertCount(0, $grandChild->getErrors(), $grandChild->getName().' should not have an error, but has one');
     }
 
-    public function testAbortFormInheritingParentDataMappingIfNotSynchronized()
-    {
-        $violation = $this->getConstraintViolation('children[address].children[street].data.foo');
-        $parent = $this->getForm('parent');
-        $child = $this->getForm('address', 'address', null, array(), true, false);
-        // even though "street" is synchronized, it should not have any errors
-        // due to its parent not being synchronized
-        $grandChild = $this->getForm('street' , 'street', null, array(), true);
-
-        $parent->add($child);
-        $child->add($grandChild);
-
-        // bind to invoke the transformer and mark the form unsynchronized
-        $parent->bind(array());
-
-        $this->mapper->mapViolation($violation, $parent);
-
-        $this->assertCount(0, $parent->getErrors(), $parent->getName().' should not have an error, but has one');
-        $this->assertCount(0, $child->getErrors(), $child->getName().' should not have an error, but has one');
-        $this->assertCount(0, $grandChild->getErrors(), $grandChild->getName().' should not have an error, but has one');
-    }
-
     public function testAbortDotRuleMappingIfNotSynchronized()
     {
         $violation = $this->getConstraintViolation('data.address');
@@ -1446,7 +1424,7 @@ class ViolationMapperTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
         }
     }
 
-    public function provideFormInheritingParentDataErrorTests()
+    public function provideErrorTestsForFormInheritingParentData()
     {
         return array(
             // mapping target, child name, its property path, grand child name, its property path, violation path
@@ -1472,9 +1450,9 @@ class ViolationMapperTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
     }
 
     /**
-     * @dataProvider provideFormInheritingParentDataErrorTests
+     * @dataProvider provideErrorTestsForFormInheritingParentData
      */
-    public function testFormInheritingParentDataErrorMapping($target, $childName, $childPath, $grandChildName, $grandChildPath, $violationPath)
+    public function testErrorMappingForFormInheritingParentData($target, $childName, $childPath, $grandChildName, $grandChildPath, $violationPath)
     {
         $violation = $this->getConstraintViolation($violationPath);
         $parent = $this->getForm('parent');
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Tests/SimpleFormTest.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Tests/SimpleFormTest.php
index 9493b85ce1..65f3ee2949 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Tests/SimpleFormTest.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Tests/SimpleFormTest.php
@@ -763,6 +763,42 @@ class SimpleFormTest extends AbstractFormTest
         $this->assertEquals(new PropertyPath('[name]'), $form->getPropertyPath());
     }
 
+    public function testGetPropertyPathDefaultsToNameIfFirstParentWithoutInheritDataHasDataClass()
+    {
+        $grandParent = $this->getBuilder(null, null, 'stdClass')
+            ->setCompound(true)
+            ->setDataMapper($this->getDataMapper())
+            ->getForm();
+        $parent = $this->getBuilder()
+            ->setCompound(true)
+            ->setDataMapper($this->getDataMapper())
+            ->setInheritData(true)
+            ->getForm();
+        $form = $this->getBuilder('name')->getForm();
+        $grandParent->add($parent);
+        $parent->add($form);
+
+        $this->assertEquals(new PropertyPath('name'), $form->getPropertyPath());
+    }
+
+    public function testGetPropertyPathDefaultsToIndexedNameIfDataClassOfFirstParentWithoutInheritDataIsNull()
+    {
+        $grandParent = $this->getBuilder()
+            ->setCompound(true)
+            ->setDataMapper($this->getDataMapper())
+            ->getForm();
+        $parent = $this->getBuilder()
+            ->setCompound(true)
+            ->setDataMapper($this->getDataMapper())
+            ->setInheritData(true)
+            ->getForm();
+        $form = $this->getBuilder('name')->getForm();
+        $grandParent->add($parent);
+        $parent->add($form);
+
+        $this->assertEquals(new PropertyPath('[name]'), $form->getPropertyPath());
+    }
+
     /**
      * @expectedException \Symfony\Component\Form\Exception\Exception
      */
@@ -809,7 +845,7 @@ class SimpleFormTest extends AbstractFormTest
     }
 
     /**
-     * @expectedException \Symfony\Component\Form\Exception\Exception
+     * @expectedException \Symfony\Component\Form\Exception\RuntimeException
      */
     public function testSetDataCannotInvokeItself()
     {
@@ -857,6 +893,103 @@ class SimpleFormTest extends AbstractFormTest
         $this->assertSame($form, $form->process('REQUEST'));
     }
 
+    public function testFormInheritsParentData()
+    {
+        $child = $this->getBuilder('child')
+            ->setInheritData(true);
+
+        $parent = $this->getBuilder('parent')
+            ->setCompound(true)
+            ->setDataMapper($this->getDataMapper())
+            ->setData('foo')
+            ->addModelTransformer(new FixedDataTransformer(array(
+                'foo' => 'norm[foo]',
+            )))
+            ->addViewTransformer(new FixedDataTransformer(array(
+                'norm[foo]' => 'view[foo]',
+            )))
+            ->add($child)
+            ->getForm();
+
+        $this->assertSame('foo', $parent->get('child')->getData());
+        $this->assertSame('norm[foo]', $parent->get('child')->getNormData());
+        $this->assertSame('view[foo]', $parent->get('child')->getViewData());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @expectedException \Symfony\Component\Form\Exception\FormException
+     */
+    public function testInheritDataDisallowsSetData()
+    {
+        $form = $this->getBuilder()
+            ->setInheritData(true)
+            ->getForm();
+
+        $form->setData('foo');
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @expectedException \Symfony\Component\Form\Exception\FormException
+     */
+    public function testGetDataRequiresParentToBeSetIfInheritData()
+    {
+        $form = $this->getBuilder()
+            ->setInheritData(true)
+            ->getForm();
+
+        $form->getData();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @expectedException \Symfony\Component\Form\Exception\FormException
+     */
+    public function testGetNormDataRequiresParentToBeSetIfInheritData()
+    {
+        $form = $this->getBuilder()
+            ->setInheritData(true)
+            ->getForm();
+
+        $form->getNormData();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @expectedException \Symfony\Component\Form\Exception\FormException
+     */
+    public function testGetViewDataRequiresParentToBeSetIfInheritData()
+    {
+        $form = $this->getBuilder()
+            ->setInheritData(true)
+            ->getForm();
+
+        $form->getViewData();
+    }
+
+    public function testPostBindDataIsNullIfInheritData()
+    {
+        $test = $this;
+        $form = $this->getBuilder()
+            ->addEventListener(FormEvents::POST_BIND, function (FormEvent $event) use ($test) {
+                $test->assertNull($event->getData());
+            })
+            ->setInheritData(true)
+            ->getForm();
+
+        $form->bind('foo');
+    }
+
+    public function testBindIsNeverFiredIfInheritData()
+    {
+        $test = $this;
+        $form = $this->getBuilder()
+            ->addEventListener(FormEvents::BIND, function (FormEvent $event) use ($test) {
+                $test->fail('The BIND event should not be fired');
+            })
+            ->setInheritData(true)
+            ->getForm();
+
+        $form->bind('foo');
+    }
+
     protected function createForm()
     {
         return $this->getBuilder()->getForm();
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Util/InheritDataAwareIterator.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Util/InheritDataAwareIterator.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5c2c5fadcc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Util/InheritDataAwareIterator.php
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+<?php
+
+/*
+ * This file is part of the Symfony package.
+ *
+ * (c) Fabien Potencier <fabien@symfony.com>
+ *
+ * For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
+ * file that was distributed with this source code.
+ */
+
+namespace Symfony\Component\Form\Util;
+
+/**
+ * Iterator that returns only forms from a form tree that do not inherit their
+ * parent data.
+ *
+ * If the iterator encounters a form that inherits its parent data, it enters
+ * the form and traverses its children as well.
+ *
+ * @author Bernhard Schussek <bschussek@gmail.com>
+ */
+class InheritDataAwareIterator extends VirtualFormAwareIterator
+{
+    /**
+     * Creates a new iterator.
+     *
+     * @param \Symfony\Component\Form\FormInterface[] $forms An array
+     */
+    public function __construct(array $forms)
+    {
+        // Skip the deprecation error
+        \ArrayIterator::__construct($forms);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Util/VirtualFormAwareIterator.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Util/VirtualFormAwareIterator.php
index 92e9da0d51..55c82ab550 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Util/VirtualFormAwareIterator.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Form/Util/VirtualFormAwareIterator.php
@@ -19,12 +19,27 @@ namespace Symfony\Component\Form\Util;
  * the form and traverses its children as well.
  *
  * @author Bernhard Schussek <bschussek@gmail.com>
+ *
+ * @deprecated Deprecated since version 2.2, to be removed in 2.3. Use
+ *             {@link InheritDataAwareIterator} instead.
  */
 class VirtualFormAwareIterator extends \ArrayIterator implements \RecursiveIterator
 {
+    /**
+     * Creates a new iterator.
+     *
+     * @param \Symfony\Component\Form\FormInterface[] $forms An array
+     */
+    public function __construct(array $forms)
+    {
+        trigger_error('VirtualFormAwareIterator is deprecated since version 2.2 and will be removed in 2.3. Use InheritDataAwareIterator instead.', E_USER_DEPRECATED);
+
+        parent::__construct($forms);
+    }
+
     public function getChildren()
     {
-        return new self($this->current()->all());
+        return new static($this->current()->all());
     }
 
     public function hasChildren()