note 115745 added to language.references.return

Zayfod's example above is useful, but I feel that it needs more explanation. The point that should be made is that a parameter passed in by reference can be changed to reference something else, resulting in later changes to the local variable not affecting the passed in variable: <?php function & func_b () { $some_var = 2; return $some_var; } function func_a (& $param) { # $param is 1 here $param = & func_b(); # Here the reference is changed and # the "&" in "func_a (& $param)" # is no longer in effect at all. # $param is 2 here $param++; # Has no effect on $var. } $var = 1; func_a($var); # $var is still 1 here!!! Because the reference was changed. ?> ---- Server IP: 72.52.91.14 Probable Submitter: 2.122.30.156 ---- Manual Page -- http://php.net/manual/en/language.references.return.php Edit -- https://master.php.net/note/edit/115745 Del: integrated -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/115745/integrated Del: useless -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/115745/useless Del: bad code -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/115745/bad+code Del: spam -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/115745/spam Del: non-english -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/115745/non-english Del: in docs -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/115745/in+docs Del: other reasons-- https://master.php.net/note/delete/115745 Reject -- https://master.php.net/note/reject/115745 Search -- https://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php