note 76816 added to function.call-user-func-array

There is weird behavior on this function in terms of passing variables by reference. It seems that despite what the manual says, if a reference to the variable exists it will be passed by reference. For instance, take the following code: <?php function setargs(&$a1, &$a2, &$a3){ $a1 = "one"; $a2 = "two"; $a3 = "three"; } $args = array('1','2','3'); call_user_func_array('setargs', $args); echo implode(' ', $args); ?> The above code will display "1 2 3", indicating that the variables were passed by value. However, take the following code: <?php function setargs(&$a1, &$a2, &$a3){ $a1 = "one"; $a2 = "two"; $a3 = "three"; } $args = array('1','2','3'); $hack = array(); for($i = 0; $i < count($args); $i++){ $hack[] =& $args[$i]; } call_user_func_array('setargs', $args); echo implode(' ', $args); ?> Which displays "one two three", instead of the expected "1 2 3". This appears to be a bug in PHP, but it is a useful one because it makes it possible to pass variables by reference to a user function call. Of course it is dangerous to rely on a hack, especially one that only works because of a bug, but if you know what you are doing this could help you get around this limitation of call_user_func_array. ---- Server IP: 216.235.15.211 Probable Submitter: 24.222.124.6 ---- Manual Page -- http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.call-user-func-array.php Edit -- https://master.php.net/note/edit/76816 Del: integrated -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/76816/integrated Del: useless -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/76816/useless Del: bad code -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/76816/bad+code Del: spam -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/76816/spam Del: non-english -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/76816/non-english Del: in docs -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/76816/in+docs Del: other reasons-- https://master.php.net/note/delete/76816 Reject -- https://master.php.net/note/reject/76816 Search -- https://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php