Explain all the Data Types of PHP with Examples?

PHP data types define the type of data a variable can store. Understanding data types is essential for writing efficient and error-free PHP scripts. PHP is a loosely typed language, which means you don’t need to declare the data type explicitly; it is determined automatically based on the assigned value.

---

Common PHP Data Types

1. String
   Represents a sequence of characters. Strings are enclosed in single or double quotes. <?php $name = "Sagar"; $greeting = 'Hello World!'; echo $name; ?>
2. Integer
   Represents whole numbers without decimal points. <?php $age = 25; $year = 2025; echo $age; ?>
3. Float / Double
   Represents numbers with decimal points. <?php $price = 199.99; $temperature = 36.6; echo $price; ?>
4. Boolean
   Represents true or false values, commonly used in conditional statements. <?php $isActive = true; $isAdmin = false; if ($isActive) { echo "User is active"; } ?>
5. Array
   Represents a collection of values stored in a single variable. Arrays can be indexed or associative. <?php // Indexed array $fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"]; echo $fruits[0]; // Outputs Apple // Associative array $user = ["name" => "Sagar", "age" => 25]; echo $user["name"]; // Outputs Sagar ?>
6. Object
   Represents instances of classes and is used in object-oriented programming. <?php class Person { public $name; function __construct($name) { $this->name = $name; } function greet() { return "Hello, " . $this->name; } } $person = new Person("Sagar"); echo $person->greet(); ?>
7. NULL
   Represents a variable with no value or an uninitialized variable. <?php $var = NULL; echo $var; // Outputs nothing ?>
8. Resource
   Represents a reference to an external resource, like a database connection or file handle. <?php $conn = mysqli_connect("localhost", "username", "password", "database"); var_dump($conn); // Outputs resource type ?>

---

Best Practices for Using PHP Data Types

• Always initialize variables to avoid undefined variable errors.
• Use the appropriate data type for each operation.
• Use gettype() or var_dump() to check variable types during debugging.
• Be aware of type juggling in PHP, especially when performing comparisons.

---

PHP’s variety of data types allows developers to store, manipulate, and process data efficiently. Mastering PHP data types is fundamental for creating robust, dynamic web applications.

---

External Reference: PHP Manual

View Other Articles About PHP: Learn PHP Articles