note 20942 deleted from language.references by sniper

Note Submitter: ---- When you do $a = new A(); PHP creates an object for you, and returns a COPY of that object So (if I get it right... ) the child is actually altering the original object and not the copy that you stored in $a. However if you do $a =& new A(); PHP still creates an object, but returns a REFERENCE to that object. The child is still altering the original - but you are happy, because you have got a reference the original! so if you change the line $a = new A(); to $a =& new A(); you'll get the result you expected. (BTW wouldn't it be more correct to say that when you do: $a = new A() PHP returns not a copy but a reference to a copy?)