[FIXED] Pass array by reference to Laravel Event Listener

Issue

I have an array in Laravel applications that I would like to modify in Laravel listener. PHP by default passes an array by value however, the way Laravel events and its listeners work I am unable to modify the original variable. Is there a better way than what I am doing below?

The Model where the event is fired from.

Model: Event.php

namespace Vendor\Package\Models

use Vendor\Package\Events\PageNodeArrayAfter;
use Event;

class Page
{
   public function toArray()
   {
      $data = []; 

      // do something with the data. 

      Event::fire(new PageNodeToArrayAfter($data))

      // The data should be modified by a listener when I use it here.
   }
}

Event: PageNodeToArrayAfter.php

namespace Vendor\Package\Events;

class PageNodeToArrayAfter
{
    /**
     * Props to be sent to the view
     * @var array $data
     */
    protected $data = [];

    /**
     * @param array $data
     * 
     */
    public function __construct(array &$data)
    {
        $this->data = $data;
    }

    public function getData()
    {
        return $this->data;
    }
}

Listener: FlashMessagesListner.php

namespace Vendor\Package\Listeners;

class FlashMessagesListner
{
    protected $data = [];

    public function handle(PageNodeToArrayAfter $event)
    {
       $this->data = $event->getData();
       // The problem here is the $data is no logner a reference here. 
    }
}

Solution

I appreciate all the responses, feedback on the question and suggestions to look for a better way of doing it.

Now instead of using Listeners, I tried Laravel Pipeline which is a great way of passing the data through different pipes and in my case filtering it. This article has been very helpful in understanding it https://jeffochoa.me/understanding-laravel-pipelines

Here is the final version of my code and how am I using Laravel Pipeline:

Node: Page.php

<?php declare(strict_types=1);

namespace Vendor\Package\Nodes;


class Page extends ReactPage
{
    public function toArray() : array
    {
        $data = parent::toArray();

        $pipes = [
           AppendFlashMessage::class,
           RemoveEmptyLayoutNode::class
        ];


        // Filter data through the pipelines. 
        $data = app(Pipeline::class)
            ->send($data)
            ->through($pipes)
            ->via('filter')
            ->then(function($data) {
                return $data;
        });

        return $data;
    }
}

Pipe: AppendFlashMessage.php

<?php declare(strict_types=1);

namespace Vendor\Package\Pipeline;

use Closure;

class AppendFlashMessage
{

    public function filter(array $data, Closure $next) : array
    {

        // step 1: pull the errors from session.
        $errors = [
            'type' => 'error',
            'message' => 'Invalid User Name'
        ];

        $data['messages'] = $errors;
        return $next($data);
    }
}

Answered By - Aftab Naveed