On 8 May 2010 20:20, Daniel Convissor <dani...@analysisandsolutions.com> wrote: > Hi Folks: > > On Wed, May 05, 2010 at 10:31:15AM +0200, Hannes Magnusson wrote: >> >> None of our docs mention this (see intl and mysqli for example). >> >> It is clearly expected behavior and is documented in the oo chapters. > > Just because a function takes an object as a parameter does not mean the > function has to modify that object. The DateTime functions return a > DateTime object. In the following example: > > $date = date_create(); > $result = date_date_set($date, 2001, 2, 3); > > An unsuspecting user could think only $result contains the new date and > go about needlessly writing in new variables rather than just using > $date. And eventually some such user will add a user comment telling > people that $date gets modified. > > It seems to me the documentation should be explicit as to how things > work. The current parameter text says: > > Procedural style only: A DateTime object returned by date_create() > > I suggest it say something like: > > Procedural style only: A DateTime object returned by date_create(). > The function modifies this object. > > What do people think? > > Thanks, > > --Dan > > -- > T H E A N A L Y S I S A N D S O L U T I O N S C O M P A N Y > data intensive web and database programming > http://www.AnalysisAndSolutions.com/ > 4015 7th Ave #4, Brooklyn NY 11232 v: 718-854-0335 f: 718-854-0409 >
As I see things (please correct me if I'm wrong ... I know you will!), any object passed as a parameter can be modified within the function/method as long as the object has a suitable interface for that to happen (i.e. some public properties/methods). This is what I read from the OOP5 pages. If so, all object parameters are &objects. Whereas with scalars, the function/method prototype clearly indicates "by reference" using &, for objects they are always by reference, so should always have &. If there is a way to read the methodsynopsis, looking for <parameter role="reference"> for a parameter, then could this automatically be used to include the appropriate entity for "The function can/may modify this object." -- ----- Richard Quadling "Standing on the shoulders of some very clever giants!" EE : http://www.experts-exchange.com/M_248814.html EE4Free : http://www.experts-exchange.com/becomeAnExpert.jsp Zend Certified Engineer : http://zend.com/zce.php?c=ZEND002498&r=213474731 ZOPA : http://uk.zopa.com/member/RQuadling
