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Request #15599 functions returning references, oddity(?)
Submitted: 2002-02-18 10:33 UTC Modified: 2003-02-08 12:53 UTC
From: anders at gatefive dot fi Assigned:
Status: Wont fix Package: Feature/Change Request
PHP Version: 4.1.1 OS: all
Private report: No CVE-ID: None
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From: anders at gatefive dot fi
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 [2002-02-18 10:33 UTC] anders at gatefive dot fi
I think it is a bit funny that when returning references from functions you get something looking kind of this in the end:
$a = & & $b;

That is, I think it would be more logic if a function that is specified to return a reference wouldn't need to be set on the return side to return a reference.. since I doesn't make my self clear, here is as an example what I mean:

class a {
  var $b;
  function &fc() {
    return $this->b;
  }
}

$c = new a();
// A)
$myvar = $c->fc();
-----------------------------------
Now this will not work as I seem would be logical, instead one need to do the last line:
// B)
$myvar = &$c->fc();

This seems funny.. My logic says that since the function is defined to return a reference it would be enough (A).. no need to do it again like in (B). This is true when passing a reference: somefunc($myvar) will result in passing an reference if the func is defined like
function somefunc(&$arg)


Is there any chance of a change?
Opinions, comments etc. ?

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 [2002-03-31 13:47 UTC] xuefer at 21cn dot com
don't think so

example:

$var = "a";   // var $c->b
$ref = &$var; // function $c->fc();

and how do u think about:
$a = $ref;    // $myvar = $c->fc();
and
$b = &$ref;   // $myvar = $c->fc();

which is copy and which is reference?
$a or $b?
 [2003-02-08 12:53 UTC] moriyoshi@php.net
We won't make such a change that would definitely break backwards compatibility even though the behaviour is not intuitive.

 
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