Returning by-refernce it is useful when you want to use function to find variable which should be bound to. When returning references, use this syntax:
function &find_var ($param) { ...code... return $found_var; } $foo =& find_var ($bar); $foo->x = 2; |
Note: Unlike parameter passing, here you have to use & in both places - to indicate that you return by-reference, not a copy as usual, and to indicate than reference binding and not usual assignment should be done for $foo.