Re: Arrays : returning a reference to an array item ??

From: Michael Fesser (netizen_at_gmx.net)
Date: 08/12/04 

Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 01:32:19 +0100

 .oO(Nico)

>The point is : return a reference to the array's item (foo), to do whatever
>with the data included therein...
>Is it clearer this way ?

<?php
function &searchItem(&$itemList, $name) {
  foreach($itemList as $key => $item) {
    if ($item['name'] == $name) {
      return $itemList[$key];
    }
  }
  return NULL;
}

$foo = array(
  array('name' => 'apple', 'color' => 'green'),
  array('name' => 'lemon', 'color' => 'yellow')
);

header('Content-type: text/plain');
print_r($foo);
$bar = &searchItem($foo, 'lemon');
$bar['color'] = 'blue';
print_r($foo);
?>

Notice the used '&':
1) The argument $itemList is passed by reference.
2) The search function returns a reference.
3) Assigning the return value to a variable also needs a reference
   operator.

HTH
Micha

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