Returning values

Values are returned by using the optional return statement. Any type may be returned, including lists and objects.

function square ($num) {     return $num * $num; } echo square (4);   // outputs '16'.

You can't return multiple values from a function, but similar results can be obtained by returning a list.

function small_numbers() {     return array (0, 1, 2); } list ($zero, $one, $two) = small_numbers();

To return a reference from a function, you have to use the reference operator & in both the function declaration and when assigning the returned value to a variable:

function &returns_reference() {     return $someref; }  $newref =&returns_reference();