Bug #17630: $obj->get() always returns copy, even with &

From: tobias@olsson.be Operating system: Debian unstable Linux 2.4.18 PHP version: 4.2.1 PHP Bug Type: Class/Object related Bug description: $obj->get() always returns copy, even with & This script illustrates the problem. The problem is that if I call on an objects method to return an object, it will _always_ return a copy. Even if I use the "&" trick, it will still return a copy. as the manual states, it is possible to do $obj = &func(); and get a reference, so it should be possible to do $obj_ref = &$obj->func() and get a reference. <?PHP foreach($array as $key=>$value) { $$key = $value;} // this object is the object to be modified class TestObj2 { var $doh = 1; function zeroDoh() { $this->doh = 0; } } // class to just contain an object class TestObj { var $doh2; function TestObj() { $this->doh2 = new TestObj2(); } function printDoh() { echo($this->doh2->doh); } function returnDoh() { return $this->doh2; } } $tst = new TestObj(); // Shows the value before it's modified $tst->printDoh(); // here we _should_ get a reference to the object $doh2 inside $tst $tst2 = &$tst->returnDoh(); // here we _should_ be modifiyng the same object as $tst->$doh2, but we are not $tst2->zeroDoh(); // here we print the value of $tst->doh2 $tst->printDoh(); -- Edit bug report at http://bugs.php.net/?id=17630&edit=1 -- Fixed in CVS: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=17630&r=fixedcvs Fixed in release: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=17630&r=alreadyfixed Need backtrace: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=17630&r=needtrace Try newer version: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=17630&r=oldversion Not developer issue: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=17630&r=support Expected behavior: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=17630&r=notwrong Not enough info: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=17630&r=notenoughinfo Submitted twice: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=17630&r=submittedtwice register_globals: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=17630&r=globals