== Changing the Type of a PHP Variable ==

== Changing the Type of a PHP Variable ==

As we mentioned at the beginning of this chapter PHP supports a number of different variable types (specifically integer, float, boolean, array, object, resource and string). We will look at these types in detail later in this chapter. First we are going to look at changing the type of a variable after it has been created.

As we mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, PHP supports a number of different variable types (specifically integer, float, boolean, array, object, resource and string). We will look at these types in detail later in this chapter. First we are going to look at changing the type of a variable after it has been created.

PHP is what is termed a ''loosely typed'' language. This contrasts with programming languages such as Java which are ''strongly typed'' languages. The rules of a strongly typed language dictate that once a variable has been declared as a particular type, its type cannot later be changed.

PHP is what is termed a ''loosely typed'' language. This contrasts with programming languages such as Java which are ''strongly typed'' languages. The rules of a strongly typed language dictate that once a variable has been declared as a particular type, its type cannot later be changed. In Java, for example, you cannot assign a floating point number to a variable that was initially declared as being a string.