Question

PHP Documentation for getmxrr specifies the syntax as

bool getmxrr ( string $hostname , array &$mxhosts [, array &$weight ] )

This function is not depreciated (not replaced by a more favored one). However, when using the function as described, I get this warning:

Deprecated: Call-time pass-by-reference has been deprecated in
path/to/script on line n

So, how should this utility be used without causing PHP to complain?

And isn’t it absurd the language frowns at its own prescription?

Answer 1

That’s not how you should call it; the function declares the reference, it’s not meant to be used at call time.

$mxhosts = $weight = array(); // not really necessary but good for form :)
$res = getmxrr('example.com', $mxhosts, $weight);
// $mxhosts and $weight are populated

See also: http://php.net/manual/en/language.references.pass.php