[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #11663: Return by Referenced missed - PHP4 Compat

[WordPress Trac]

#11663: Return by Referenced missed - PHP4 Compat
--------------------------+-------------------------------------------------
 Reporter:  hakre         |        Owner:            
     Type:  defect (bug)  |       Status:  closed    
 Priority:  normal        |    Milestone:            
Component:  General       |      Version:  2.9       
 Severity:  normal        |   Resolution:  worksforme
 Keywords:  dev-feedback  |  
--------------------------+-------------------------------------------------
Changes (by miqrogroove):

  * status:  new => closed
  * resolution:  => worksforme
  * milestone:  3.0 =>


Comment:

 Cross-posting from #11780 :

 In PHP there is no such thing as "return by reference" by the normal
 definition.  PHP always uses references for return variables.  The only
 exception is when there's a scope conflict, as in, {{{return
 $GLOBALS['abc'];}}} or {{{return $this->var;}}} when PHP implicitly
 returns by value.

 Most of the examples cited by the other ticket were probably returning
 cached objects, which would be maintained as separate copies unless
 explicitly referenced when returned.

 plugins_api() returned a local variable and needed no special treatment.

 I am not aware of any change in this behavior between PHP4 and PHP5.

 Enjoy!

-- 
Ticket URL: <http://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/11663#comment:7>
WordPress Trac <http://core.trac.wordpress.org/>
WordPress blogging software