Question about Pointer in PHP

ConceitoDigital

Im trying to study Pointers in PHP, but there are few things I still dont understand..

This example works fine:

<?Php

function example(&$anything){
	$anything[] = 'b';
}

$temp = array('a');

example($temp);
print_r($temp);
//Array ( [0] => a [1] => b ) 

?>

Now Here Im having problems..

<?Php
$temp = array('a');

function example(){
	global $temp;
	return $temp;
}

$something = &example();
$something[] = 'b';

print_r($temp);

//Array ( [0] => a ) 
?>

How can I make that "$temp" changes.. and returns "Array ( [0] => a [1] => b ) "?

I know that "$something = &$temp;" works.. But the idea is use the result of a functon

laserlight

PHP does not have pointers as a language feature. What you are looking at are references.

How can I make that "$temp" changes.. and returns "Array ( [0] => a [1] => b ) "

Why do you want to do that in the first place? The solution is:

<?php
$temp = array('a');

function &example(){
    global $temp;
    return $temp;
}

$something =& example();
$something[] = 'b';

print_r($temp);
?>

But that does not make sense: why make $temp a global with respect to example() when you can pass it by reference, and then why use $something when you can use $temp (or vice versa)?

ConceitoDigital

Ah thank you, it works! 😃

It was just an example.. I didnt understand before why a fuction´s return wasnt working as reference..

But I see many reasons to do that example..

The function can check many situations.. and return different arrays...

function &example(){ 
  ...
    check many things
  ...
  if(math_result == 10)   return $ThisArray; 
   ... 
    check other things
   ...
  if(something) return $otherArray;

}

laserlight

But I see many reasons to do that example..

The function can check many situations.. and return different arrays...

But why use globals and return by reference in the first place? Why not just generate the appropriate array, and return that? I think that this design would leave the arrays, function and caller tightly coupled, and probably have a function that does not follow the "do one thing and do it well" principle.