values does not adds to array dynamically - php

Question

In CodeIgniter, I want to add values to an array from two different functions, but the values are being added to the array only inside the first function. Please tell what can be the issue?
Code:
public $ChnCat_tags = array();
function first_function() {
//some code
$ChnCat_tags[] = array(
'level' => $level,
'value' => $row_vct->id_vct,
'label' => $row_vct->displayname_vct,
'disable' => $disb
);
$recursion_result = second_function($ChnCat_tags);
return $ChnCat_tags; //only returns values added inside first_function
}
function second_function($ChnCat_tags) {
//some code
$ChnCat_tags[] = array(
'level' => $level,
'value' => $row_vct->id_vct,
'label' => $row_vct->displayname_vct,
'disable' => $disb
);
recursion_result = second_function($ChnCat_tags);
return recursion_result;
}

Answer 1

Well you could just start using $this->ChnCat_tags instead of just ChnCat_tags everywhere.
Or (pass by reference):
function first_function() {
//some code
$ChnCat_tags[] = array(
'level' => $level,
'value' => $row_vct->id_vct,
'label' => $row_vct->displayname_vct,
'disable' => $disb
);
second_function($ChnCat_tags);
return $ChnCat_tags;
}
function second_function(&$ChnCat_tags) {
//some code
$ChnCat_tags[] = array(
'level' => $level,
'value' => $row_vct->id_vct,
'label' => $row_vct->displayname_vct,
'disable' => $disb
);
second_function($ChnCat_tags);
// no need to return now
//return recursion_result;
}

Answer 2

do like this
function first_function() {
$ChnCat_tags[] = array(
'level' => $level,
'value' => $row_vct->id_vct,
'label' => $row_vct->displayname_vct,
'disable' => $disb
);
# Must call function with $this
$recursion_result = $this->second_function($ChnCat_tags);
# print the value of $recursion_result whish hold entire data
print_r($recursion_result);
}
function second_function($ChnCat_tags) {
$ChnCat_tags[] = array(
'level' => $level,
'value' => $row_vct->id_vct,
'label' => $row_vct->displayname_vct,
'disable' => $disb
);
# just return the array data.
return $ChnCat_tags;
}