Bug Report

Minimal PHP Code Causing Issue

See https://getrector.org/demo/fa9b69b8-58ba-4f8c-b06b-ff59b18f795c

<?php
interface ValueAccessor
{
    public function & accessValue($object, $memberName);
}
final class DemoFile implements ValueAccessor
{
    public function & accessValue($object, $memberName)
    {
        $value = count($object);
        return $value;
    }
}

NB: I am completely aware that return-by-ref and param-by-ref is a snake pit and that this kind of code should be abolished. Dealing with legacy code here.

Responsible rules

• SimplifyUselessVariableRector

Expected Behavior

return by ref must return a var or use a function that returns by-ref. count() does not return by-ref. If the change is applied this will result in PHP warnings: https://3v4l.org/f8GDO

Rector should skip this kind of return statements for simplifying.