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Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 10:48:26 -0800
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To: Analysis & Solutions <danielc@analysisandsolutions.com>,
	internals@lists.php.net
References: <1068703990.3fb320f6975fb@www.3gstech.com> <20031113065221.GA5862@panix.com> <3FB3CBE7.4020702@3gstech.com> <20031113184350.GA4127@panix.com>
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Subject: Re: [PHP-DEV] php5 method return reference error?
From: waboring@3gstech.com (walt boring)

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Analysis & Solutions wrote:

>Hi Walt:
>
>On Thu, Nov 13, 2003 at 10:22:31AM -0800, walt boring wrote:
>  
>
>>This is very sad that the only real argument in the bug against fixing 
>>it was
>>that it was hard.  Come on!  This is such a fundamental thing to be able 
>>to do.
>>
>>function &foo() {
>> return something_else();
>>}
>>    
>>
>
>The thing is, as I understand it, references are referring to a variable.  
>Your example doesn't have a variable to refer to.
>
>If I misunderstand what's going on, I trust someone on the list will 
>correct me.
>
>
>  
>
>>going to make a lot
>>of php folks upset, and make it much more painfull to upgrade to php5.
>>    
>>
>
>But the error rests on the people who made the mistake of coding returns
>by reference on items that aren't variables.
>  
>
This also fails when you do

function &foo() {
   return new bar();
}

the something_else() function in my first example could return a variable. 

function &foo() {
  return something_else();
}

function &something_else() {
    $foo = 'a';
   return $foo;
}

This also fails, and it shouldn't.

Walt

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