Returning a Reference from a Function in PHP

Home > PHP

Q

How To Return a Reference from a Function? in PHP?

✍: FYIcenter.com

A

To return a reference from a function, you need to:

Add the reference operator "&" when defining the function.
Add the reference operator "&" when invoking the function.

Here is a PHP script on how to return a reference from a function:

<?php
$favor = "vbulletin";
function &getFavorRef() {
  global $favor;
  return $favor;
}
$myFavor = &getFavorRef();
print("Favorite tool: $myFavor\n");
$favor = "phpbb";
print("Favorite tool: $myFavor\n");
?>

This script will print:

Favorite tool: vbulletin
Favorite tool: phpbb

As you can see, changing the value in $favor does affect $myFavor, because $myFavor is a reference to $favor.

⇒ Specifying Argument Default Values in PHP

⇐ Function Returns Data by Value in PHP

⇑ Creating Your Own Functions in PHP

⇑⇑ PHP Tutorials

2016-12-08, ∼2640🔥, 0💬

Reading the Entire File to a String in PHP
How To Read the Entire File into a Single String in PHP? If you have a file, and you want to read the entire file into a single string, you can use the file_get_contents() function. It opens the specified file, reads all characters in the file, and returns them in a single string. Here is a PHP scri... 2016-12-04, ∼4369🔥, 0💬

Reading and Writing Files in PHP
Where to find tutorials on how to Read and Write Files in PHP? A collection of tutorials to answer many frequently asked questions how to Read and Write Files in PHP. Topics included in this collection are: Reading a Text File to an Array in PHP Reading the Entire File to a String in PHP Opening a f... 2023-03-01, ∼3491🔥, 1💬

Returning an Array from a Function in PHP
How To Return an Array from a Function? in PHP? You can return an array variable like a normal variable using the return statement. No special syntax needed. Here is a PHP script on how to return an array from a function: <?php function powerBall() { $array = array(rand(1,55), rand(1,55), ran... 2016-12-18, ∼3377🔥, 0💬

Specifying Argument Default Values in PHP
How To Specify Argument Default Values? in PHP? If you want to allow the caller to skip an argument when calling a function, you can define the argument with a default value when defining the function. Adding a default value to an argument can be done like this "function name($arg=expression){}. Her... 2016-12-04, ∼2665🔥, 0💬

Returning a Reference from a Function in PHP
How To Return a Reference from a Function? in PHP? To return a reference from a function, you need to: Add the reference operator "&" when defining the function. Add the reference operator "&" when invoking the function. Here is a PHP script on how to return a reference from a functi... 2016-12-08, ∼2641🔥, 0💬

Function Returns Data by Value in PHP
How Values Are Returned from Functions? in PHP? If a value is returned from a function, it is returned by value, not by reference. That means that a copy of the value is return. Here is a PHP script on how values are returned from a function: <?php $favor = "vbulletin"; function getFavor() { ... 2016-12-08, ∼2484🔥, 0💬

Function with Undefined Number of Arguments in PHP
How To Define a Function with Any Number of Arguments? in PHP? If you want to define a function with any number of arguments, you need to: Declare the function with no argument. Call func_num_args() in the function to get the number of the arguments. Call func_get_args() in the function to get all t... 2016-12-04, ∼2477🔥, 0💬

Local Variables in a Function in PHP
What Is the Scope of a Variable Defined in a Function? in PHP? The scope of a local variable defined in a function is limited with that function. Once the function is ended, its local variables are also removed. So you can not access any local variable outside its defining function. Here is a PHP sc... 2016-12-08, ∼2471🔥, 0💬

Reading a Text File to an Array in PHP
How To Read a Text File into an Array in PHP? If you have a text file with multiple lines, and you want to read those lines into an array, you can use the file() function. It opens the specified file, reads all the lines, puts each line as a value in an array, and returns the array to you. Here is a... 2016-12-04, ∼2357🔥, 0💬

All rights in the contents of this web site are reserved by the individual author. fyicenter.com does not guarantee the truthfulness, accuracy, or reliability of any contents.