note 92955 added to language.oop5.references

Ultimate explanation to object references: NOTE: wording 'points to' could be easily replaced with 'refers ' and is used loosly. <?php $a1 = new A(1); // $a1 == handle1-1 to A(1) $a2 = $a1; // $a2 == handle1-2 to A(1) - assigned by value (copy) $a3 = &$a1; // $a3 points to $a1 (handle1-1) $a3 = null; // makes $a1==null, $a3 (still) points to $a1, $a2 == handle1-2 (same object instance A(1)) $a2 = null; // makes $a2 == null $a1 = new A(2); //makes $a1 == handle2-1 to new object and $a3 (still) points to $a1 => handle2-1 (new object), so value of $a1 and $a3 is the new object and $a2 == null //By reference: $a4 = &new A(4); //$a4 points to handle4-1 to A(4) $a5 = $a4; // $a5 == handle4-2 to A(4) (copy) $a6 = &$a4; //$a6 points to (handle4-1), not to $a4 (reference to reference references the referenced object handle4-1 not the reference itself) $a4 = &new A(40); // $a4 points to handle40-1, $a5 == handle4-2 and $a6 still points to handle4-1 to A(4) $a6 = null; // sets handle4-1 to null; $a5 == handle4-2 = A(4); $a4 points to handle40-1; $a6 points to null $a6 =&$a4; // $a6 points to handle40-1 $a7 = &$a6; //$a7 points to handle40-1 $a8 = &$a7; //$a8 points to handle40-1 $a5 = $a7; //$a5 == handle40-2 (copy) $a6 = null; //makes handle40-1 null, all variables pointing to (hanlde40-1 ==null) are null, except ($a5 == handle40-2 = A(40)) ?> Hope this helps. ---- Server IP: 64.71.164.2 Probable Submitter: 24.131.165.243 ---- Manual Page -- http://www.php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.references.php Edit -- https://master.php.net/note/edit/92955 Del: integrated -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/92955/integrated Del: useless -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/92955/useless Del: bad code -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/92955/bad+code Del: spam -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/92955/spam Del: non-english -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/92955/non-english Del: in docs -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/92955/in+docs Del: other reasons-- https://master.php.net/note/delete/92955 Reject -- https://master.php.net/note/reject/92955 Search -- https://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php