Can the dollar sign be someone referred to c++ pointers?
<p>Today I saw a post on php.net that I'm quoting here:</p>

<pre><code>$Bar = "a";
$Foo = "Bar";
$World = "Foo";
$Hello = "World";
$a = "Hello";

$a; //Returns Hello
$$a; //Returns World
$$$a; //Returns Foo
$$$$a; //Returns Bar
$$$$$a; //Returns a

$$$$$$a; //Returns Hello
$$$$$$$a; //Returns World
</code></pre>

<p>Since PHP derives from C++, doesn't this remember anything similar to pointers? Something like:</p>

<pre><code>string bar = "a";
string *foo = &amp;bar;
string **world = &amp;foo;
string ***hello = &amp;world;
string ****a = &amp;hello;
</code></pre>

<p>Just like pointers, when you define <code>$a = 'var'</code> and <code>$var = 'test'</code> and then you do <code>$$a</code> you are using the R-value of <code>$a</code> to point to <code>$var</code> which is kinda what happens with C++ pointers. </p>

<p>So just like the <code>new X</code> and <code>X-&gt;</code> syntax that is clearly taken from the C++ dynamic memory syntax, does this somehow derives from pointers?</p>
