php array reference passing to function
<p>I have a question that I cannot find an answer.</p>

<p>I'm constructing a very big array that contain hex values of a file (like <code>$array[0]=B5</code> <code>$array[1]=82</code> and so on until <code>$array[1230009]</code>)</p>

<p>When I create a function to manipulate some offsets in that array and pass the <code>$array</code> as reference ( <code>function parse(&amp;$array) { ... }</code>) it takes WAY longer than if I pass the array normaly ( <code>function parse($array) { ... }</code>) ..</p>

<p>How is that possible ? </p>

<p>PS: Is there any faster way not to use array at all ? Just to use a $string = "B5 82 00 1E ..etc", but I need to track the Offset as i advance in reading hex values as some of this values contains lengths"</p>
