- serialize: documentation ( source)
<?php
$a = [];
$a[] = $a;
echo "\na: ".serialize($a);
$b = [];
$b[] =& $b;
echo "\nb: ".serialize($b);
$c = new stdClass();
$c->c = $c;
echo "\nc: ".serialize($c);
$d = new stdClass();
$d->c =& $d;
echo "\nd: ".serialize($d);
$e = new stdClass();
$e->e = clone $e;
echo "\ne: ".serialize($e);