Since it's hard to search, note that =& (等于 & 符号) is the same as = & (等于空间 & 符号) and is often written such that it runs into the other variable like $x = &$y['z']; or $x = &$someVar (& 符号和美元符号变量名). Example simplified from the docs:
The symbol & is used in various ways in PHP to represent operations with "references". The PHP manual has a section titled 翻译: 奇芳翻译: 奇芳翻译: 奇芳翻译: 奇芳翻译: 奇芳翻译: 奇芳翻译: 奇芳翻译: 奇芳翻译: 奇芳翻译: 奇芳翻译: 奇芳 which every PHP programmer should read.
In particular, the syntax $a =& $b, which can also be written $a = &$b, represents 参考转让. It binds two variables together, so that they both point at the same piece of data. Think of the & as modifying the = rather than modifying the $b.
$a =& $b;
$a = 42;
// both $a and $b will be 42
$b = 101;
// both $a and $b will be 101
You can also link more than two variables together as references, and again it doesn't matter which of the existing names you use on the right-hand side of the assignment:
$a =& $b;
$c =& $b;
$d =& $a;
$e =& $c;
// $a, $b, $c, $d, and $e now all point to the same data, interchangeably