Returning References

Returning by-reference is useful when you want to use a function to find which variable a reference should be bound to. When returning references, use this syntax:


<?php

function &find_var ($param)

{

    /* ...code... */

    return $found_var;

}



$foo =& find_var ($bar);

$foo->x = 2;

?>

In this example, the property of the object returned by the find_var function would be set, not the copy, as it would be without using reference syntax.

Note: Unlike parameter passing, here you have to use & in both places - to indicate that you return by-reference, not a copy as usual, and to indicate that reference binding, rather than usual assignment, should be done for $foo.