why we use this Pointer in php code example

Example 1: pointers php

$b=2;
$a=$b;
$a=3;
print $a;
print $b;
// output is 32

$b=2;
$a=&$b; // note the & operator
$a=3;
print $a;
print $b;
// output is 33

Example 2: php pointer function

function plus_by_reference( &$param ) {
      // what ever you do, will affect the actual parameter outside the function
      $param++;
}

$a=2;
plus_by_reference( $a );
echo $a;
// output is 3