Bug #71479 [Opn->Wfx]: Array value turning into reference after passed to any function by reference

Edit report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=71479&edit=1 ID: 71479 Updated by: laruence@php.net Reported by: maxrodikov at gmail dot com Summary: Array value turning into reference after passed to any function by reference -Status: Open +Status: Wont fix Type: Bug Package: *General Issues Operating System: Any PHP Version: 7.0.2 Block user comment: N Private report: N New Comment: this is a side affect by new design, I don't think it's a problem in general. it will be truns to no-reference in some other points if it is needed. thanks Previous Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2016-01-28 19:28:06] maxrodikov at gmail dot com Description: ------------ Bug can be reproduced on almost any 7.* package and almost any OS. Tested by myself on Ubuntu / FreeBSD / Windows on PHP package without additional modules. Seems, that when you pass associative array element to any function/method, that require argument to be passed by reference, you get reference at passed array key instead of scalar/array/NULL value. Didn't found at documentation anything about such conduct. Test script: --------------- <?php // Can be any user or internal function (class method, e.t.c), accepting parameters by reference function make_nothing(&$param) {} $arr1 = ['val' => NULL]; $arr2 = ['val' => 5]; // instead "5" there can be any scalar/array/NULL // Pass array element to function, that doing nothing make_nothing($arr2['val']); // ok, now we have reference instead of value $arr1 = array_merge($arr1, $arr2); var_dump($arr1, $arr2); Expected result: ---------------- array(1) { ["val"]=> int(5) } array(1) { ["val"]=> int(5) } Actual result: -------------- array(1) { ["val"]=> &int(5) } array(1) { ["val"]=> &int(5) } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Edit this bug report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=71479&edit=1