Req #8427 [Ana->Csd]: Unwanted references

Edit report at http://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=8427&edit=1 ID: 8427 Updated by: jani@php.net Reported by: pkalliok at cs dot helsinki dot fi Summary: Unwanted references -Status: Analyzed +Status: Closed Type: Feature/Change Request -Package: Feature/Change Request +Package: *General Issues Operating System: Any PHP Version: 4.0.4 -Assigned To: +Assigned To: jani Block user comment: N Private report: N New Comment: Not an issue anymore. If it is, post new report with proper example scripts. Previous Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2003-01-18 14:19:58] moriyoshi@php.net 1) when setting a variable by reference from a part of array or object, the value being set _from_ is also turned into reference This is not supposed to be a bug. See bug #20993. 2) object contained in other objects are turned into references by settype() and calling their methods This might be a bug, but this problem doesn't occur under ZendEngine2. Stay tuned. 3) NULLs become references to NULLs when you set an object from them by reference. This is expected behaviour. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2000-12-26 13:31:46] pkalliok at cs dot helsinki dot fi There are at least three places I know of where normal values are silently turned into references: - when setting a variable by reference from a part of array or object, the value being set _from_ is also turned into reference - object contained in other objects are turned into references by settype() and calling their methods - NULLs become references to NULLs when you set an object from them by reference Because this all alters the behaviour of PHP in subtle, dangerous ways, makes debugging harder and because references have still bugs (for example, serialisation), I ask you not to turn things into references when I don't see there is any reason to. I understand it is your policy that "turning a value into a reference should be safe", but as long as references have problems, don't adopt this policy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Edit this bug report at http://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=8427&edit=1