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PHP Data Types

A data type is the kind of a value. PHP values come in kinds like whole numbers, decimal numbers and text.

Three kinds under var_dump

var_dump prints the type and the value of what it is given. Three values of three kinds print on three lines.

<?php
var_dump(42);
var_dump(3.5);
var_dump("Hana");

True and false under var_dump

A bool value goes through var_dump here. Each line names the type and shows which of the two values it holds.

<?php
var_dump(true);
var_dump(false);

Type names from gettype

gettype gives the name of the type of a value as text. Four values print four type names.

<?php
echo gettype(42), "\n";
echo gettype(3.5), "\n";
echo gettype("Hana"), "\n";
echo gettype(true), "\n";

The null value

The code dumps the null value here. The output shows the word PHP writes for it.

<?php
var_dump(null);

Example

<?php
var_dump(7);
var_dump(2.5);
var_dump("Mina");
var_dump(false);

Key points

  • The int type holds whole numbers.
  • The float type holds numbers with a decimal part.
  • The string type holds text.
  • The bool type holds true or false.
  • Null means no value.
  • Each value belongs to one kind, and that kind is the data type of the value.

In this example, four values go through var_dump in order. The first dump shows an int. The second dump shows a float. The third dump shows a string with its length. The last dump shows a bool.

Note

gettype calls a float double, an old name that stayed.

Try it Yourself

Edit the code, then press Run.

Running is simulated · Programiz PHP Compiler

Exercise

What does var_dump("Hana") print?