note 105142 deleted from language.variables.basics by danbrown

Note Submitter: gene dot garber at gmail dot NOSPAM ---- The XOR note above stated the content was switching but I don't think switching or swapping the variable data is a detailed way to explain the code there. <?php $a = 3; $b = 5; $a^=$b; /** ~binary (unary operator)~ $b 0000 0101 a/k/a 5 $a 0000 0011 a/k/a 3 =either or but not both= $a 0000 0110 a/k/a 6 ~~ */ $b^=$a; /** ~~ $a 0000 0110 a/k/a 6 $b 0000 0101 a/k/a 5 =either or but not both= $b 0000 0011 a/k/a 3 ~~ */ $a^=$b; /** ~~ $b 0000 0011 a/k/a 3 $a 0000 0110 a/k/a 6 =either or but not both= $a 0000 0101 a/k/a 5 ~~ */ ?> so now $a=5, $b=3 I think it would be less confusing to just do a regular swap (see below) but does XOR make it possible to always swap variable data without the extra variable ($temp)? <?php $a=3; $b=5; $temp = $a; // $temp = 3; $a = $b; // $a = 5; $b = $temp; // $b = 3; // $a = 5, $b = 3, ($temp cries itself to sleep) ?>