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Bug #65831 Referenced variables override value of a reference-variable to an object
Submitted: 2013-10-04 14:33 UTC Modified: 2013-10-04 14:38 UTC
From: mz dot evgeny at gmail dot com Assigned:
Status: Not a bug Package: Variables related
PHP Version: 5.5.5RC1 OS: Any
Private report: No CVE-ID: None
View Developer Edit
 [2013-10-04 14:33 UTC] mz dot evgeny at gmail dot com 
Description:
------------
This happens when I try to re-use a variable that was used to hold a reference to another variable for holding an object reference. 
If I remove the second line or use unset, it works as expected. But AFAIK it's not required to unset variables before assigning it a new value.

Test script:
---------------
$num = 123;
$ref = &$num; 

$obj = new stdClass();
$ref = $obj; 
$num = 321;
var_dump($ref);

Expected result:
----------------
class stdClass#1 (0) {
}

Actual result:
--------------
int(321)

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 [2013-10-04 14:38 UTC] nikic@php.net
-Status: Open +Status: Not a bug
 [2013-10-04 14:38 UTC] nikic@php.net 
Sorry, but your problem does not imply a bug in PHP itself.  For a
list of more appropriate places to ask for help using PHP, please
visit http://www.php.net/support.php as this bug system is not the
appropriate forum for asking support questions.  Due to the volume
of reports we can not explain in detail here why your report is not
a bug.  The support channels will be able to provide an explanation
for you.

Thank you for your interest in PHP.

If you assign to a reference, of course that will modify that reference (that's the point of using a reference after all...). If you want to create a new reference using the same variable you need to use =& assignment ($ref =& $obj).
 
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