[BUG] PHP function list parser fails to detect functions declared with reference operator (&)

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

Description of the Issue

The Function List panel in Notepad++ does not catch functions declared with a leading ampersand (&) required for functions that return by reference. They don't appear in the function list (but also don't break detection of functions further down the line).

The PHP function list parser should already support reference-returning functions, the regex includes an optional & via (?:\x26\s*)?. However, the function name capture does not seem to get resolved correctly.

Steps To Reproduce

Current Behavior

Function list does not show reference-returning functions prefixed with &.

Expected Behavior

Function list should also show reference-returning functions prefixed with &.

Debug Information

Notepad++ v8.8.1   (64-bit)
Build time : May  3 2025 - 18:41:09
Scintilla/Lexilla included : 5.5.6/5.4.4
Boost Regex included : 1_85
Path : C:\Program Files\Notepad++\notepad++.exe
Command Line : 
Admin mode : OFF
Local Conf mode : OFF
Cloud Config : OFF
Periodic Backup : OFF
Placeholders : OFF
Scintilla Rendering Mode : SC_TECHNOLOGY_DIRECTWRITE (1)
Multi-instance Mode : monoInst
File Status Auto-Detection : cdEnabledNew (for current file/tab only)
Dark Mode : ON
OS Name : Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
OS Version : 22H2
OS Build : 19045.5965
Current ANSI codepage : 1252
Plugins : 
    mimeTools (3.1)
    NppConverter (4.6)

Anything else?

Edited after noticing I was (unwittingly) still on 8.6, a few months outdated. After updating to current 8.8.1 the issue remains.

Start by locating the PHP function-list parser and the regular expression that handles reference-returning functions. Reproduce the missing entry with a PHP function prefixed by &, then verify that reference-returning functions appear in the Function List without changing detection of later functions.