static vars question

Sorry if this is completely stupid, but can anyone explain this, assuming the following code: function test() { static $i = 0; if( $i < 10 ) { $i++; test(); } echo "I'm here"; } test(); I am a little surprised to find that even when $i < 10 and test() is invoked again, the current function call executes all the way through to echoing "I'm here". I would've thought current execution would be terminated as soon as the function is called again, and that I'd get "I'm here" only once we're out of the loop (ie, $i == 10). Thanks for any pointers. Martin Helie