What Does PHP's `&=` Reference Assignment Operator Do?

The Intriguing &= Reference Assignment Operator in PHP

PHP boasts a unique reference assignment operator, &=, that enables the establishment of variable dependencies.

Function of the &= Operator

The &= operator establishes a reference between two variables, linking them to the same data in memory. This means that modifications made to one variable are automatically reflected in the other.

Deprecation Status

No, the &= operator is not deprecated and remains a crucial tool in PHP.

Understanding Reference Assignment

Reference assignment differs from standard assignment in that it doesn't create a copy of data. Instead, both variables reference the same underlying data, allowing for seamless and efficient memory management.

While &= can be written as both = & and =&, it essentially performs the same function in both cases.

Example

Consider the following PHP code:

$a = 3;
$b = &$a;
$a = 4;
echo $b; // Output: 4

In this example, $b references the same data as $a. When the value of $a is modified, $b is automatically updated.

Additional Resources

For a comprehensive understanding of reference assignment, refer to the following PHP manual sections:

• [Assign By Reference](https://www.php.net/manual/en/language.references.assignment.php)
• [References Overview](https://www.php.net/manual/en/language.references.overview.php)

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