PHP - Function argument passed by value and by reference

  1. HOME
  2. PHP
  3. Function
  4. Function arguments

Introduction

The arguments that the function receives are copies of the values that the user provided.

If you modify these arguments inside the function, it will not affect the original values.

This feature is known as sending arguments by value.

Demo

<?php
     function modify($a) { 
         $a = 3; //www  . ja v a 2  s .com
     } 

     $a = 2; 
     modify($a); 
     var_dump($a); // prints 2 
?>

Result

Here, ee declared a variable $a with value 2, and then calling the modify method sending that $a.

The modify method modifies the argument $a, setting its value to 3, but this does not affect the original value of $a, which remains 2.

To change the value of the original variable, pass the argument by reference.

To do that, you add an ampersand (&) before the argument when declaring the function:

Demo

<?php
     function modify(&$a) { 
         $a = 3; // www  . ja  v a2  s.c  o  m
     } 

     $a = 2; 
     modify($a); 
     var_dump($a); // prints 2 
?>

Result

Now, on invoking the function modify, $a will be 3.

Related Topic