May be you find &$variable in somebody's code. Don't confuse with this "stranger" variable. It means assigning a variable by reference.
Please look this example:
<?php
// An example of assigning variables by value
$yours = "this value from yours <br/>";
$mine = $yours;
echo "my var: ".$mine;
// output: my var: this value from yours
$mine = "this value from mine <br/>";
echo "your var: ".$yours;
// output: your var: this value from yours
//An example of assigning variables by reference
$mine = &$yours;
$yours = "this value from yours <br/>";
echo "my var: ".$mine;
// output: my var: this value from yours
$mine = "this value from mine <br/>";
echo "your var: ".$yours;
// output: your var: this value from mine
?>
