PHP arrays and pass-by-reference

Question

The following pattern used to be possible in PHP:

function foo($arr)
{
    // modify $arr in some way
    return $arr;
}

This could then be called using pass-by-value:

$arr = array(1, 2, 3);
$newarr = foo($arr);

or pass-by-reference:

$arr = array(1, 2, 3);
foo(&$arr);

but "Call-time pass-by-reference has been deprecated". Modifying the function signature:

function foo(&$arr)

will handle the pass-by-reference case, but will break the dual-purpose nature of the original function, since pass-by-value is no longer possible.

Is there any way around this?

Answer 1

I think this is as close as you get:

function foo(&$bar) { ... }

foo($array);                // call by reference
$bar = foo($_tmp = $array); // call by value

Unfortunately it will require some changes to every call.

Answer 2

The dual-purpose nature was stupid, which is why the behaviour is deprecated. Modify the function signature, as you suggest.