Quick Question regarding: Only variables should be passed by reference

[tec4]

Just want to better understand why I'd be getting this error:

Strict Standards: Only variables should be passed by reference in /directory...

$to_email = Array();
 foreach($_POST as $key => $value) {
 if(stripos($key, "contact_") === 0) {
  $id = array_pop(explode("_", $key));
  $to_email[] = $id;
 }
 }

But when I change it to the below code, it works fine

$to_email = Array();
 foreach($_POST as $key => $value) {
 if(stripos($key, "contact_") === 0) {
  $id = explode("_", $key);
  $id = array_pop($id);
  $to_email[] = $id;
 }
 }

Is it as simple as you are not supposed to modify a string or value from it's original form without actually storing it as it's 'new' value?

[lostdreamer]

$id = array_pop(explode("_", $key));

There's your problem ;)

explode will return an array.
Array_pop will take that array, and remove the last value from it.

But since you are not supplying Array_pop with an array (but rather a function that returns an array) it cannot modify the array for you.


[php.net...]

[tec4]

Haha thanks :P

Ya, that makes sense. Just hadn't really toyed much with this stuff I guess - but your explanation cleared it up. Much appreciated!