Values are returned by using the optional return statement. Any type may be returned, including lists and objects.
function square ($num) { return $num * $num; } echo square (4); // outputs '16'. |
You can't return multiple values from a function, but similar results can be obtained by returning a list.
function small_numbers() { return array (0, 1, 2); } list ($zero, $one, $two) = small_numbers(); |
To return a reference from a function, you have to use the reference operator & in both the function declaration and when assigning the return value to a variable:
function &returns_reference() { return &$someref; } $newref = &returns_reference(); |