PHP Convert Object to Array

public function to_array(&$object = '')
  {
      // IF OBJECT, MAKE ARRAY
      if (is_object($object)) {$object = (array) $object;}

      // IF NOT ARRAY OR EMPTY ARRAY, RETURN = LEAVES SCALARS
      if (!is_array($object) || empty($object)) {return;}

      // FOR EACH ITEM, RECURSE VALUE
      foreach ($object as &$Value) {$this->to_array($Value);}
  }
  
 /**
 ---------------------------------------------
 How to use ?
 ------------------ **/
 
 $test = json_decode($stringJSON);
 /** Dont new initalize beginning just keep $test to converted **/
 to_array($test);
 dd($test);