Return the number of references for a variable's zval

refCount.php

<?php

/**
 * Return the number of references for a variable's zval
 *
 * @param  mixed $var Variable to inspect
 * @return int Number of references according to debug_zval_dump
 */
function refCount($var)
{
    ob_start();
    debug_zval_dump($var);
    $dump = ob_get_clean();
    if (preg_match('~refcount\(([\d]+)\)~', $dump, $matches)) {
        $refcount = $matches[1];
        return --$refcount; // Don't count the reference to this function
    }
    return 0;
}