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();