PHP variable to access variable within an array

Question

Not being used to php, I'm facing an issue with accessing arrays and its sub data.

$form['signatories']['signatory1'] = array(...);

I must create a "pointer" to the array created in the line above, I expected the following to work:

$cluster = $form['signatories']['signatory1'];

Testing I'm accessing the same "memory space" proves I'm wrong:

$cluster['signatory_name'] = array(...)
// $form['signatories']['signatory1'] has no elements
// $cluster has a sub element

Like cluster is a copy of the array I want it to point to.

How should I proceed? I tried using the "&" reference sign as mentioned in some blog, but that didn't help.

Thanks! J.

Can you post the result of a print_r($form); to get things clearer — Boris Guéry
– Boris Guéry, Commented Jun 18, 2012 at 14:10

lonesomeday · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-18 14:11:54Z

6

By default, assignment in PHP is by value, not by reference, except for objects.

If you want to pass a reference to the original array, you need to create a reference explicitly:

$cluster = &$form['signatories']['signatory1'];

See assigning by reference in the PHP manual.

answered Jun 18, 2012 at 14:11

lonesomeday

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Bailey Parker · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-18 14:11:20Z

1

You can use =& to assign by reference:

$cluster =& $form['signatories']['signatory1'];

Effectively this is two operations. The first is &$form['signatories']['signatory1'] which gives you a reference to $form['signatories']['signatory1']. The second is = which obviously assigns the reference to $cluster.

answered Jun 18, 2012 at 14:11

Bailey Parker

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