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# 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:

    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`.

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