What does the *= do? (PHP question)

What does the *= mean or do?

include ("config.php");
include ("include.php");
include ("lang.php");
session_start();

$c *= 1; // <<<---- What does the *= part of the variable do?
if ($c == 0) { $c = 1; };
$sql = mysql_query("SELECT name, title, description, pages, ref FROM {$prefix}categories WHERE id = $c");
$current_category = mysql_fetch_array($sql, MYSQL_ASSOC);
if (($c > 1) & !$current_category["name"]){
header("Location: {$dir}index.php");
};
if (!$current_category["name"]) { $current_category["name"] = "Directory Search"; };
if (!$current_category["title"]) { $current_category["title"] = $current_category["name"]; };
if (!$current_category["description"]) { $current_category["description"] = $current_category["name"]." ".$current_category["title"]; };
$last_category = false;
$ref = $c;

Hello,

*= is an assignment operator to multiply while assigning. Here's an example:



The final value of $b is 10, since b*a == 2*5 == 10.

This is the same as doing:



It's just a shortcut. You can also do:
+= (for addition assignment)
-= (for subtraction assignemnt)
/= (for division assignment)

In your code, $c is being multiplied by 1, and the result is being stored back in $c. A bit of a strange thing to do if you ask me, but whatever floats your boat

Hope that helps!

bbodien,

That does help 100%. I have been reading a book called Beggining PHP 4 by wrox. Although it's a good book it stays microscopic in scope so long that you cant see the big picture. I understand what they show in each example of syntax and working with forms etc. at the time. But, it is very difficult to see how to work with all the things they show you (as a whole). Again Thanks alot!

Thank you

Sean Karns