Returning Arrays

[ahundiak]

If a function creates then returns an array, is the original array itself returned or is a copy of it returned?

Example:
function db_query($sql)
{
$set = mysql_query($sql);
return $set;
}
$records = db_query('Select * from table');

Does the code actually end up making a copy of $set?

Would it save some memory usage if references were explicitly used?
Example:
function &db_query($sql)
{
$set = mysql_query($sql);
return $set;
}
$records = &db_query($sql);

[Christoph09]

I believe parameters are passed by value in PHP, which means that the $set inside the function is a copy. If you want to pass by reference, put a & before the parameter in the function call.