How Values Are Returned from Functions

Q

How Values Are Returned from Functions? - PHP Script Tips - Creating Your Own Functions

✍: FYIcenter.com

A

If a value is returned from a function, it is returned by value, not by reference. That means that a copy of the value is return. Here is a PHP script on how values are returned from a function:

<?php
$favor = "vbulletin";
function getFavor() {
  global $favor;
  return $favor;
}
$myFavor = getFavor();
print("Favorite tool: $myFavor\n");
$favor = "phpbb";
print("Favorite tool: $myFavor\n");
?>

This script will print:

Favorite tool: vbulletin
Favorite tool: vbulletin

As you can see, changing the value in $favor does not affect $myFavor. This proves that the function returns a new copy of $favor.

2007-04-24, 4703👍, 0💬