PHP / Pointer returns null

Question

I'm developing an application using php 5.4 and CodeIgniter 2.1 (but I think this is strictly a php questions). I am expecting a pointer to a stdClass to be returned, but instead I receive a null value.

$this->myLittleTest($myLittlePointer);
  // displays "NULL"
echo(gettype($myLittlePointer));
...

function myLittleTest(&$myPtr){
  $myPtr = &$this->myLittleClass->myLittleArrayOfStdClasses[0];
     // displays "object"
  echo(gettype($myPtr));
}

Is there a scope issue causing the pointer to return null? Thanks for your help.

deceze · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-01 12:40:46Z

1

By assigning by reference to a reference, you're breaking the first reference. Just assign to it via =, not =&:

function foo(&$bar) {
    $val = 'baz';
    $bar = $val;
}

foo($bar);
var_dump($bar);

Note that references are not pointers. You are not handing memory address pointers around, PHP does not do that. References just allow you to assign symbol table aliases, nothing more.

edited Feb 1, 2014 at 12:40

answered Feb 1, 2014 at 12:34

deceze♦

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1 Comment

Simple Gifts Over a year ago

Perfect! You've solved a long-nagging mystery. Thanks for your help.

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