PHP __callStatic by Reference

php_callstatic_reference.php

<?php 
error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set('display_errors', true); 	

class Test { 
	private static $_inst = array(); 
	public static function & __callStatic ($name, $args) { 
		if (!isset(self::$_inst[$name])){ 
			echo "Created \n"; 
			self::$_inst[$name] = (object) "test";
		}
		return self::$_inst[$name]; 
	}
}
$a =& Test::abc();
var_dump($a); // prints 'Created' 
$a = null; 
var_dump(Test::abc()); // doesn't print 'Created' and the instance still exists in Test::$_inst 
?>