PHP Data Types

A Data type is the classification of data into a category according to its attributes;

 Alphanumeric characters are classified as strings

 Whole numbers are classified integers
 Numbers with decimal points are classified as floating points.
 True or false values are classified as Boolean.

PHP is a loosely typed language; it does not have explicit defined data types. PHP
determines the data types by analyzing the attributes of data supplied. PHP implicitly
supports the following data types

 Integer – whole numbers e.g. -3, 0, 69. The maximum value of an integer is platform-
dependent. On a 32 bit machine, it’s usually around 2 billion. 64 bit machines
usually have larger values. The constant PHP_INT_MAX is used to determine the
maximum value.

<?php
echo PHP_INT_MAX;
?>

Output:

9223372036854775807

 Floating point number – decimal numbers e.g. 3.14. they are also known as double
or real numbers. The maximum value of a float is platform-dependent. Floating
point numbers are larger than integers.
 Character string – e.g. Hello World
 Boolean – e.g. True or false.

Before we go into more details discussing PHP data types, let’s first discuss variables.

PHP Variable

A variable is a name given to a memory location that stores data at runtime.

The scope of a variable determines its visibility.

A Php global variable is accessible to all the scripts in an application.

A local variable is only accessible to the script that it was defined in.

Think of a variable as a glass containing water. You can add water into the glass, drink all of
it, refill it again etc.
The same applies for variables.

Variables are used to store data and provide stored data when needed. Just like in other
programming languages, PHP supports variables too. Let’s now look at the rules followed
when creating variables in PHP.

 All variable names must start with the dollar sign e.g.

 Variable names are case sensitive; this means $my_var is different from $MY_VAR


 All variables names must start with a letter follow other characters e.g. $my_var1.
$1my_var is not a legal variable name.


 Variable names must not contain any spaces, “$first name” is not a legal variable
name. You can instead use an underscore in place of the space e.g. $first_name. You
cant use characters such as the dollar or minus sign to separate variable names.

Let’s now look at how PHP determines the data type depending on the attributes of the
supplied data.

<?php
$my_var = 1;
echo $my_var;
?>

Output:

Floating point numbers

<?php
$my_var = 3.14;
echo $my_var;
?>

Output:

3.14

Character strings
<?php
$my_var ="Hypertext Pre Processor";
echo $my_var;
?>

Output:

Hypertext Pre Processor

Use of Variables

Variables help separate data from the program algorithms.

The same algorithm can be used for different input data values.

For example, suppose that you are developing a calculator program that adds up two
numbers, you can create two variables that accept the numbers then you use the variables
names in the expression that does the addition.

Variable Type Casting

Performing arithmetic computations using variables in a language such as C# requires the

variables to be of the same data type.

Type casting is converting a variable or value into a desired data type.

This is very useful when performing arithmetic computations that require variables to be
of the same data type.

Type casting in PHP is done by the interpreter.

In other languages such as C#, you have to cast the variables. The code below shows type
casting in C#.
The diagram below shows PHP implementing the above example.

PHP also allows you to cast the data type.

This is known as explicit casting. The code below demonstrates explicit type casting.

<?php
$a = 1;
$b = 1.5;
$c = $a + $b;
$c = $a + (int) $b;
echo $c;
?>

Output:

Above Code Output 2 The var_dump function is used to determine the data type. The code
below demonstrates how to use the var_dump function.

<?php
$a = 1;
var_dump($a);
$b = 1.5;
var_dump($b);
$c = "I Love PHP";
var_dump($c);
$d = true;
var_dump($d);
?>

Output:

int(1) float(1.5) string(10) "I Love PHP" bool(true)

PHP Constant

Define constant– A constant is a variable whose value cannot be changed at runtime.

Suppose we are developing a program that uses the value of PI 3.14, we can use a constant
to store its value.

Let’s now look at an example that defines a constant. define(‘PI’,3.14); //creates a constant
with a value of 3.14 Once you define PI as 3.14 , writing a code like below will generate an
error PI = 4; //PI has been defined as a constant therefore assigning a value is not
permissible.

PHP Operators

Arithmetic operators

Arithmetic operators are used to perform arithmetic operations on numeric data. The
concatenate operator works on strings values too. PHP supports the following operators.

Operator Name Description Example Output

+ Addition Summation of x and y 1 + 1; 2
– Subtraction Difference between x 1 – 1; 0
and y
* Multiplication Multiplies x and y 3 * 7; 21
/ Division Quotient of x and y 45 / 5; 9
% PHP Modulus Gives remainder of 10 % 3; 1
dividing x and y
-n Negation Turns n into a negative -(-5); 5
number
x.y Concatenation Puts together x and y “PHP” . ” PHP
ROCKS”;10 . 3; ROCKS103

Assignment Operators

Assignment operators are used to assign values to variables. They can also be used
together with arithmetic operators.

Operator Name Description Example Output

x=? assignment Assigns the value of x to $x = 5; 5
?
x += ? addition Increments the value of $x = 2;$x += 1; 3
x by ?
X -= ? subtraction Subtracts ? from the $x = 3;$x -= 2; 1
value of x
 X *=? multiplication Multiplies the value of x $x = 0;$x *=9; 0
? times
X /=? division Quotient of x and ? $x = 6;$x /=3; 2
X %=? modulus The reminder of dividing $x = 3;$x %= 2; 1
x by?
X .=? concatenate Puts together items ” $x = ‘Pretty’;$x .= ‘ Pretty
Cool!’;” Cool!

Comparison operators

Comparison operators are used to compare values and data types.

Operator Name Description Example Output

X == y Equal Compares x and y then 1 == “1”; True or 1
returns true if they are equal
X === y identical Compares both values and 1 === False or 0. Since 1
data types. “1”; is integer and “1”
is string
X != y, x PHP Not Compares values of x and y. 2 != 1; True or 1
<> y equal returns true if the values are
not equal
X>y Greater Compares values of x and y. 3 > 1; True or 1
than returns true if x is greater
than y
X<y Less than Compares values of x and y. 2 < 1; False or 0
returns true if x is less than y
X >= y Greater Compares values of x and y. 1 >=1 True or 1
than or returns true if x is greater
equal than or equal to y
X <= y Less than or Compares values of x and y. 8 <= 6 False or 0
equal returns true if x is greater
than or equal to y

Logical operators

When working with logical operators, any number greater than or less than zero (0)
evaluates to true. Zero (0) evaluates to false.

Operator Name Description Example Output

X and y, x And Returns true if both x and 1 and True or
&& y y are equal 4;True&& 1False or 0
False;
X or y, x || y Or Returns true if either x or y 6 or 9;0 || 0; True or
is true 1False or 0
X xor y Exclusive or, Returns true if only x is 1 xor 1;1 xor 0; False or
xor true or only y is true 0True or 1
!x Not Returns true if x is false !0; True or 1
and false if x is true