Title: do_action_ref_array()
Last modified: August 20, 2016

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# do_action_ref_array()

 *  Resolved [Gustavius](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gustavius/)
 * (@gustavius)
 * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/do_action_ref_array-1/)
 * do_action_ref_array( $tag, $arg )
 * I can’t wrap my head around this one. If the $tag is the particular function,
   should the $arg be array arguments called up from that particular function or
   are they reference to some other function that returns a number of array values(
   arguments) that are used in the $tag function?
 * Oh boy, my brain almost seized. I think I’m over complicating things.
 * Can someone maybe please explain this function to me in human language with a
   simple example?

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

 *  Moderator [bcworkz](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcworkz/)
 * (@bcworkz)
 * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/do_action_ref_array-1/#post-3249489)
 * I’m going to assume you want to hook this action, as opposed to initiating an
   action in your code for someone else to hook.
 * You still hook this with add_action() where the $tag argument is just a label
   identifying an action, the same way as do_action() does.
 * The ref_array variant is useful for passing a bunch of parameters. All the parameters
   are stuffed into an array, instead of listing each one. So instead of
 *     ```
       do_action('sample',$1,$2,$3,$4,$5);
       add_action('sample', 'my_handler', 10, 5);
       function my_handler($1,$2,$3,$4,$5) {
         //do stuff with 5 parms
         return $1;
       }
       ```
   
 * we can just do
 *     ```
       $arg = array (1,2,3,4,5);
       do_action_ref_array('sample',$arg);
       add_action('sample', 'my_handler');
       function my_handler($five_parms) {
         //do stuff with 5 array elements
         return $five_parms;
       }
       ```
   
 * It’s up to you to do something with the array elements, or not. It’s rare to 
   use all of them, but it’s nice to have a selection to call on depending on the
   situation. In addition, the whole array can be returned, no matter what was changed.
   Instead of just returning the first argument.
 *  Thread Starter [Gustavius](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gustavius/)
 * (@gustavius)
 * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/do_action_ref_array-1/#post-3249513)
 * Thank you! That makes a LOT more sense. People like you should write the bloody
   guides! Apologies for the late reply…
 * Well, I don’t see much benefit with the ref_array except or the last part – returning
   it as a whole instead of individual arguments.

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

The topic ‘do_action_ref_array()’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [arrays](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/arrays/)
 * [function](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/function/)

 * In: [Hacks](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/plugins-and-hacks/hacks/)
 * 2 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Gustavius](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gustavius/)
 * Last activity: [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/do_action_ref_array-1/#post-3249513)
 * Status: resolved

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