Why '&' is used with $a.

Question

$a=5
$b=&$a
$b=10
//Then what is the value of $a,and why??

Answer 1

& is a reference operator. That means if variable b is referencing var a, so the value of b will change the value of a.

If b = 10, then a will also initialize with 10.
Try in PHP compiler.

Answer 2

Here$a=10 but why? please explain

Answer 3

The & is used to obtain address of a variable, in this case address of variable <$a>. When we assign address of variable <$a> into variable <$b> we are telling variable <$b> to refer to and use the same address that is used by variable <$a>. This is why changes to variable <$b> will reflect on variable <$a>, voce versa.

Hth, cmiiw