Re: Variables by Reference

kozer@optushome.com.au (Matt) writes: > Hello, i'm just wondering, if a variable is created > by reference, does that mean that the two variables > are mirrors of each other ? Or does that mean the > creating variable can only change the other and > not the other way round. > > Eg. > > > $init = "hello world"; > > $init = &$newref; echo $newref; // echos ""; echo $init; // echos ""; > $newref = "five"; > > echo $newref; // echos "five"; > echo $init; // was mirrored, echos five too > > > This is a simple example but i'm sure you all know > what i'm talking about, so which is it ? Mirrored > or not ? You are making two names for the same piece of data, so if you change the data then it's changed, no matter what you call it. $foo = "fooble"; // puts "fooble" in $foo $bar = &$foo; // makes $bar point to the same data as $foo print "\$foo = '$foo' <br>\n"; // prints "fooble" print "\$bar = '$bar' <br>\n"; // prints "fooble" $bar = "barble"; // changes the data that $bar points at to "barble" print "\$foo = '$foo' <br>\n"; // prints "barble" print "\$bar = '$bar' <br>\n"; // prints "barble" $foo = "bazzle"; // changes the data that $foo points at to "bazzle" print "\$foo = '$foo' <br>\n"; // prints "bazzle" print "\$bar = '$bar' <br>\n"; // prints "bazzle" -- Robin Vickery............................................... Planet-Three, 3A West Point, Warple Way, London, W3 0RG, UK Email: robin@planet-three.net Phone: +44 (0)794 670 6395