Posted by Nenad Jovanovic on 06/30/05 11:09

Hi!

Under PHP 4.3.10, the following simple code behaves as expected: $b[1]
and $c are not modified by the final assignment to $a[1]:

Code 1:
********

$a[1] = 1;
$b[1] = 2;
$c = 3;

$a = $b;
$a[1] = 7;

// resulting mappings:
// $a[1] ... 7
// $b[2] ... 2
// $c ...... 3

However, the following two codes result in changes to $b[1] and $c, the
only difference to the previous code being the connection between $b[1]
and $c via a reference:

Code 2:
********

$a[1] = 1;
$b[1] = 2;
$c =& $b[1];

$a = $b;
$a[1] = 7;

// resulting mappings:
// $a[1] ... 7
// $b[2] ... 7
// $c ...... 7

Code 3:
********

$a[1] = 1;
$b[1] =& $c;
$c = 2;

$a = $b;
$a[1] = 7;

// resulting mappings:
// $a[1] ... 7
// $b[2] ... 7
// $c ...... 7

Is this effect intended? If it is, is it specified somewhere in the PHP
manual?

Thanks,

Nenad Jovanovic

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