Way to store variable value is different than the way to store variable address(location).

Question

Hello,

Is it true that the syntax for (assign of variable value) is different than the syntax for (assign of address) in PHP.

Like: If we want to store variable value to another variable then we can do it like this:

$b=2;
$a=$b;
print $a;
print $b;
// output is 22

But if we want to store variable address to another variable then we can do it like this:

$b=2;
$a=&$b; // note the & operator
$a=3;
print $a;
print $b;
// output is 33

Note that first time $b contain '2' then after $a=&$b; $b will contain '3' , now the point to think that if we want to store variable value then we will use $a=$b; & if we want to store variable location address then we will use $a=&$b;

My conclusion:

The way of value storing is like:

$store_destination = $store_source;   // ie: value save from right to left.

but the way of address storing is like:

$store_source = $store_destination;   // ie: address save from left to right.

Am i right?

Thanks.

Answer 1

In PHP we don't talk about address and pointers explicitly, instead we talk about a concept called references.

In case 2, you are making $b a reference to $a as a result of which they both refer to the same content. Any change made to either will also change the other.