Return a method with variable list of arguments as reference in PHP

Question

I'm trying to return a value from a method as a reference in PHP5.3. I may be going at this the completely wrong way, but I am bringing an older project up to speed with some of the newer 5.3+ features.

Below is an example I whipped up to explain what is happening:

class Foo
{
    static $foobar = 5;

    function &bar()
    {
        return self::$foobar;
    }
}
// Doesn't work
//$test1 = &call_user_func_array(array("Foo","bar"),array());

// Doesn't work
//$test1 = &call_user_func_array("Foo::bar",array());

// Doesn't work
//$f = new Foo; $test1 = &call_user_func_array(array($f,"bar"),array());

// WORKS
//$test1 = &Foo::bar();

//Doesn't work
//$function = "Foo::bar";
//$test1 = &$function();

// WORKS
$f = new Foo; $test1 = &$f->bar();

$test2 = Foo::bar();

var_dump($test1);
var_dump($test2);

$test1 = 10;
echo "----------<br />";

var_dump($test1);
var_dump($test2);
var_dump(Foo::bar()); //returns 10 when working, 5 when not working

The very last Foo::bar() should return a 10, since $test1 should be a reference to Foo::$foobar when everything works.

I realize that this example also uses some funky legacy PHP calling Foo::bar and the method bar() not being specified as static, but still being able to be invoked via ::

Any help would be greatly appreciated as the only fix I have so far is to just setup a switch on the argument list, and call the method directly based upon how many arguments exist.

Answer 1

This is just assigning $test1 to the value of $foobar (which is 5)

$test1 = &$f->bar();

This is just overwriting the value contained in $test1 with 10

$test1 = 10;

If you want to update the value within Foo, use

$f->foobar = 10;

Answer 2

Doesn't it already work in PHP 5.2.5: http://codepad.org/uMEIK210 (note the 10 as final result)?

I suppose, you would like to see the 10 three times.

For that (that $test2 is also a reference to the class field) you need to specify the & on both sides: function &bar() and $test2 =& Foo::bar();

See the docs :

Note: Unlike parameter passing, here you have to use & in both places - to indicate that you want to return by reference, not a copy, and to indicate that reference binding, rather than usual assignment, should be done for $myValue.

So you just need to edit one line to get the (probably) desired 3 x 10:

$test2 =& Foo::bar();

Final hint

Do not use PHP references

Answer 3

First of all, try declaring the function static. Also the call should be a normal call. prefixed by ampersand as already answered.

class Foo
{
    static $foobar = 5;

    public static function &bar()
    {
        return self::$foobar;
    }
}

The call:

$test1 =& Foo::bar();

Also, I can't see a valid reason for referencing a static variable. A static variable is a variable that doesn't change value between calls. It basically is a "global" var enclosed in a namespace. You only need read access from outside the class, the write should be done internally, as per the encapsulation principle. No need for the reference, really..