Pass by reference problem with PHP 5.3.1

Question

Ok, this is a weird problem, so please bear with me as I explain.

We upgraded our dev servers from PHP 5.2.5 to 5.3.1.

Loading up our code after the switch, we start getting errors like:

Warning: Parameter 2 to mysqli_stmt::bind_param() expected to be a reference, value given in /home/spot/trunk/system/core/Database.class.php on line 105

the line mentioned (105) is as follows:

call_user_func_array(Array($stmt, 'bind_param'), $passArray);

we changed the line to the following:

call_user_func_array(Array($stmt, 'bind_param'), &$passArray);

at this point (because allow_call_time_pass_reference) is turned off, php throws this:

Deprecated: Call-time pass-by-reference has been deprecated in /home/spot/trunk/system/core/Database.class.php on line 105

After trying to fix this for some time, I broke down and set allow_call_time_pass_reference to on.

That got rid of the Deprecated warning, but now the Warning: Parameter 2 to mysqli_stmt::bind_param() expected to be a reference warning is throwing every time, with or without the referencing.

I have zero clue how to fix this. If the target method was my own, I would just reference the incoming vars in the func declaration, but it's a (relatively) native method (mysqli).

Has anyone experienced this? How can I get around it?

Thank you.

Answer 1

I just experienced this same problem, calling bind_param via call_user_func_array and passing an array of parameters. The solution is to modify the values in the array to be referenced. It's not elegant but it works.

call_user_func_array(array($stmt, 'bind_param'), makeValuesReferenced($passArray));

function makeValuesReferenced($arr){
    $refs = array();
    foreach($arr as $key => $value)
        $refs[$key] = &$arr[$key];
    return $refs;

}