optional variables by reference

[skiflyer]

Anyone know if it's possible? I can't seem to make it work or find any documentation I just want..

function foo($arg1, $arg2, &$error_code=null) {

}

So if someone cares about the code they can have it, and if they don't, they don't get it.

I know I could put my main return as the by reference and return the error code for this behavior, but I'm just wondering if the above is possible.

 

[sleipnir214]

I don't recall ever reading anywhere that his is not allowed, but if it were, it wouldn't make much sense.

The reason you use pass-by-value is so that the function can make permanent changes to the values in variables. What is your script going to do with the changed value if the value is a literal?


<aside>
I do remember that one version of FORTRAN had an interesting feature that if you passed a literal value to a function that both expected pass-by-reference and changed the value passed into it, the program would from the call to the function on understand that the literal referred to the new value.

The numeric literal 4 would, for example, have the value 5 when output or used in calculations.
</aside>




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[skiflyer]

And herein lies the problem... what I really want is an optional argument, not a preset variable which makes setting the argument optional.

Unfortunatley it results in a parse error, so I can't really surpress and ignore. So be it.

 

[sleipnir214]

PHP supports functions with variable-length argument lists.



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[skiflyer]

Ah yeah, good point.

I'm assuming you're referring to the func_get_args() (and similar) functions?

If so, wonderful thanks, if not, please elaborate.

Thanks, somehow I completely overlooked that option.

 

[sleipnir214]

Yeah, that's what I was alluding to.



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