note 130865 added to language.types.array

Note that holding a reference to array element changes the behavior of "copying" the array: <?php $original = array("data" => "original value"); $element_reference = &$original["data"]; // $element_reference is not used, just hold! $copy = $original; $copy["data"] = "value set in copy"; var_dump($original); ?> results in array(1) { ["data"]=> &string(17) "value set in copy" } If I've understood correctly, taking the reference modifies the original array to now contain a reference to hidden (potentially shared) data and copying the array will copy the reference instead of copying the data and the original reference simply pointing to given array element without modifying the original array. Example: https://3v4l.org/jePdD#veol ---- Server IP: 2a03:b0c0:2:f0:0:1:a983:a001 (proxied: BunnyCDN) Probable Submitter: 86.60.202.83 ---- Manual Page -- https://php.net/manual/en/language.types.array.php Edit -- https://main.php.net/note/edit/130865 Del: integrated -- https://main.php.net/note/delete/130865/integrated Del: useless -- https://main.php.net/note/delete/130865/useless Del: bad code -- https://main.php.net/note/delete/130865/bad+code Del: spam -- https://main.php.net/note/delete/130865/spam Del: non-english -- https://main.php.net/note/delete/130865/non-english Del: in docs -- https://main.php.net/note/delete/130865/in+docs Del: other reasons-- https://main.php.net/note/delete/130865 Reject -- https://main.php.net/note/reject/130865 Search -- https://main.php.net/manage/user-notes.php