PHP Manual
Prev | Chapter 15. References Explained | Next

# Passing by Reference

You can pass variable to function by reference, so that function could modify its arguments. The syntax is as follows:

    function foo (&$var)
    {
        $var++;
    }

    $a=5;
    foo ($a);
    // $a is 6 here

Note that there's no reference sign on function call - only on function definition. Function definition alone is enough to correctly pass the argument by reference.

Following things can be passed by reference:

- Variable, i.e. `foo($a)`

- New statement, i.e. `foo(new foobar())`

- Reference, returned from a function, i.e.:

      function &bar()
      {
          $a = 5;
          return $a;
      }
      foo(bar());

  See also explanations about returning by reference.

Any other expression should not be passed by reference, as the result is undefined. For example, the following examples of passing by reference are invalid:

    function bar() // Note the missing &
    {
        $a = 5;
        return $a;
    }
    foo(bar());

    foo($a = 5) // Expression, not variable
    foo(5) // Constant, not variable

These requirements are for PHP 4.0.4 and later.

Prev | Home | Next
What References Are Not | Up | Returning References