===== Ref =====

==== Format ====
subroutine subroutinename ( //**ref(**variable**)**,variable// )\\
call subroutinename ( // ref(variable),variable// )\\
\\
function functionname ( //**ref(**variable**)**,variable// )\\
functionname ( //ref(variable),variable// )\\
==== Description ====

By default values are passed to [[Subroutine|Subroutines]] and [[function|Functions]] by value.  This means that the value that you specify when calling the routine is copied into a variable that belongs to and is totally local to the routine.\\
The **ref()** declaration allows you to pass a reference to a variable or an array to the routine.  When a routine changes the value of a referenced variable, the change is actually made to the original variable used in the routine call.

==== Example ====

<code>
dim a(10)
call assignarray(ref(a),10)
print "total="+totalarray(ref(a),10)
end

subroutine assignarray(ref(array), arraylen)
   # set array elements
   for t = 0 to arraylen-1
      array[t]= t*t
    print array[t]
   next t
end subroutine

function totalarray(ref(array),arraylen)
   totalarray = 0
   for t = 0 to arraylen-1
      totalarray += array[t]
   next t
end function
</code>
displays\\
<code>
0
1
4
9
16
25
36
49
64
81
total=285
</code>
==== See Also ====
{{page>en:start#Program Control&noheader}}

==== New To Version ==== 
0.9.9.13