note 44412 added to function.unset

The documentation is not entirely clear when it comes to static variables. It says: If a static variable is unset() inside of a function, unset() destroys the variable and all its references. <?php function foo() { static $a; $a++; echo "$a\n"; unset($a); } foo(); foo(); foo(); ?> The above example would output: 1 2 3 And it does! But the variable is NOT deleted, that's why the value keeps on increasing, otherwise the output would be: 1 1 1 The references are destroyed within the function, this handeling is the same as with global variables, the difference is a static variable is a local variable. Be carefull using unset and static values as the output may not be what you expect it to be. It appears to be impossible to destroy a static variable. You can only destroy the references within the current executing function, a successive static statement will restore the references. The documentation would be better if it would say: "If a static variable is unset() inside of a function, unset() destroys all references to the variable. " Example: (tested PHP 4.3.7) <?php function foo() { static $a; $a++; echo "$a\n"; unset($a); echo "$a\n"; static $a; echo "$a\n"; } foo(); foo(); foo(); ?> Would output: 1 1 2 2 3 3 ---- Manual Page -- http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.unset.php Edit -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=edit+44412 Delete -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=delete+44412&report=yes Reject -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=reject+44412&report=yes Search -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php