PHP - GETH - Cannot return variable inside function - php

Question

So I am calling a function to get the balance of an ethereum account.
I am using the php web 3 found here.
I wrapped the web3 class inside my own function.
So I call my function -> my function executes the web3 eth command.
My function that calls the eth command:
public function getAccountBalance($account) {
$newBalance = '';
$this->web3->eth->getBalance($account, function ($err, $balance) use($newBalance) {
if ($err !== null) {
echo 'Error: ' . $err->getMessage();
return;
}
$newBalance = $balance->toString();
echo $newBalance; // this echos the balance fine
});
echo $newBalance; // this returns empty, as like we defined at the top
return $newBalance;
}
I am trying to return the balance from the eth function to return it within my getAccountBalance() function but whenever I try to return it, it gives empty, as if it didn't update the $newBalance value inside the $this->web3->eth->getBalance($account, function ($err, $balance) use($newBalance) { callback.
If I echo it inside the $this->web3->eth->getBalance($account, function ($err, $balance) use($newBalance) { callback, it outputs the correct balance fine.
If I try and echo it outside of the $this->web3->eth->getBalance($account, function ($err, $balance) use($newBalance) {, it gives me the value at the top of my function, where I define it: $newBalance = '';, so it's giving me an empty response.
I am not sure why this command does not let me and some others do...
I have tried adding global $newBalance instead of use($newBalance) too but still no luck.

Answer 1

Okay, so that was quick. It turns out my code is completely fine, except from 1 & i missed out.
I need to use:
$this->web3->eth->getBalance($account, function ($err, $balance) use(&$newBalance) {
Without this &, it could not pull the variable into the function.
With this added, It now returns the balance as I wish.