Return functions

[falco85]

Is there any way to make a function which returns more than one value (true or false) and (the array)?

[Thomas]

Have you tried using an array to pass each argument back?

function fn($arg1, $arg2)
{
return array($arg1, $arg2);
}

Use the List function to set variables after calling your function like so:

list($var1, $var2) = fn(1, 2);

This will simply set $var1 to '1' and $var2 to '2'

[Nightracer]

Why not pass it by reference?

PHP Code:

$variable = myFunc($v1, &$v2); 


This way you get $variable back and whatever is done to $v2 in the function changes the variable outside of the function.

[Chan]

What is pass by reference?

[Thomas]

Pass by reference essentially sets a pointer to the original variable's memory location so that you can "pass" the variable on to the function without needing to create a duplicate of the variable. And when the function changes the variable it also changes outside the function since the function is changing the same memory location that the original variable also points too.

For example

PHP Code:

<?php
//pass variable $a by reference
function foo(&$var)
{
//add 1 to $var which essentially adds 1 to $a since $var points to $a's memory location
   $var++;
}

$a=5;
foo($a);
// $a is 6 here
?>

This example was taken off the php.net site see more information here.