--TEST-- Indirect modification of isref by-value return value not possible --FILE-- <?php class A { public $b; } $arr = []; $a = new A; $a->b =& $arr; (new ReflectionProperty('A', 'b'))->getValue($a)[] = 42; var_dump($a); ?> --EXPECT-- object(A)#1 (1) { ["b"]=> &array(0) { } }